OP  THE 

Theological   Seminary, 

PRINCETON,    N.  J. 

BV  3269  .B8  P4 
Pearson,  Hugh,  1777-1856. 
Memoir  of  Rev.  Claudius 
Buchanan,  D.D. 


^'    .i? 


REV.  CLAUDIUS  BUCHANAN,  D.  D, 


77 

BY  REV.  HUGH   PEARSON,   M.  A. 

or  ST.  John's  college,  oxford. 


IN   SOME   PARTS    CONSIDERABLY   ABRIDGED; 
AND,   IN    OTHERS,   MUCH   ENLARGED   BY  EXTRACTS  FROM 

DR.  Buchanan's 
Christian  Researches  in  Asia. 


PUBLISHED   BY 


THE    AMERICAN    TRACT    SOCIETY, 

150   NASSAU-STREET,   NEW-yOKK< 


D.   Faiisbdw,   Primer. 


The  Memoir  of  Dr.  Buchanan  here  presented 
to  the  christian  public  is  that  by  Dr.  Pearson,  much 
abridged  in  parts  which  cannot  be  of  permanent 
interest  in  this  country;  with  the  insertion,  in  the 
order  of  time,  of  the  most  valuable  portions  of  Dr. 
Buchanan's  "  Christian  Researches  in  Asia,"  pub- 
lished by  himself,  which  Dr.  Pearson  felt  con- 
strained to  omit.  AVhat  is  retained  from  Dr.  Pear- 
son is  given  in  his  own  words  ;  except  that  the 
narrative  of  Dr.  Buchanan's  life  after  his  return  to 
England  is  condensed  by  the  American  editor  into 
one  short  chapter,  with  the  addition  of  some  con- 
cluding remaiks;  and,  in  a  few  instances,  con- 
necting sentences  have  been  inserted.  The  divi- 
sion of  the  book  into  parts  has  been  dropped,  and 
the  whole  included  in  consecutive  chapters.  It  is 
believed  that  every  thing  of  permanent  value  in 
the  Memoir  by  Pearson  is  retained,  and  that  the 
additions  from  the  "  Researches  in  Asia  "  will  ren- 
der this  volume  more  valuable  than  the  original ; 
and  indeed,  in  relation  to  Eastern  missions,  one  of 
the  most  instructive  and  useful  works  that  have 
been  written. 

3 


CONTENTS. 


Page. 

Chap.  I. — Early  life  and  education  of  Mr.  Buchanan  in 
Scotland— His  singular  tour  in  England— Employ- 
ment in  the  law,  and  serious  change  in  his  religious 
views'— Introduction  to  Mr.  Newton — From  1766 
to  1791,'  9 

Chap.  II. — Mr.  Buchanan's  wish  t3  enter  the  ministry 
— His  introduction  to  Mr.  H.  Thornton,  and  ad- 
mission at  Glueen's  College,  Cambridge— From  Fe- 
bruary to  September,  1791,  36 

Chap.  III. — Commencement  ol'  Mr.  Buchanan's  resi- 
dence at  Cambridf^e — Elis  studies  and  correspon- 
dence—His ordination  and  appointment  to  India — 
From  October,  1791,  to  March.  1796,  54 

Chap.  IV. — Mr.  Buchanan's  voyage  to  India — His  ar- 
rival at  Calcutta  in  March,  1797— Appointment  as 
chaplain  at  Barcackpore,  and  residence  there  till 
November,  1799— Marriage  of  Mr.  Buchanan  in 
the  spring  of  that  year — Appointment  as  one  of  the 
chaplains  of  the  Presidency — Institution  of  the  Col- 
lege of  Fort  William,  and  appointment  of  Mr.  Bu- 
chanan as  viceprovost,  and  professor  of  classics, 
in  the  year  1800,  103 

CnAP.  v.— Progress  of  the  College — Official  and  cleri- 
cal engagements  of  Mr.  Buchanan — Voyage  of 
Mrs.  Buchanan  to  England— College  disputations 
1* 


b  CONTENTS. 

Page. 

and  examinations — Orders  of  the  Court  of  Direc- 
tors for  its  abolition— Defence  of  that  Institution 
by  the  Marquis  Weilesley ;  and  by  Mr.  Bucha- 
nan—Return of  Mrs.  Buchanan  to  Bengal— Mr. 
Obeck— His  character  and  death — First  series  of 
prizes  offered  by  Mr.  Buchanan  to  the  Universi- 
ties and  public  schools  of  the  United  Kingdom — 
Mr,  Buchanan's  Sermons  at  the  PresidencyChurch, 
on  the  Evidences  of  Christianity — From  January, 
1801,  to  December,  1S03,  158 

Chap.  VI. — Order  for  the  continuance  of  the  College — 
Annual  disputations— Translation  of  the  Scrip- 
tures at  the  College — Prejudices  against  the  mea- 
sure—  Institution  of  a  fund  for  widows  and  or- 
phans— Salutary  influence  of  the  College — Mrs. 
Buchanan's  second  voyage  to  England — "  Memoir 
of  the  Expedience  of  an  Ecclesiastical  Establish- 
ment in  India" — Character  of  the  prize  discourses 
produced  by  his  donations — Mr.  Lassar — Literary 
and  moral  excellence  of  the  College— Proposal  of 
two  prizes  of  £500 — Dangerous  illness — Death  of 
Mrs.  Buchanan — Exertions  for  the  translation  of 
the  Scriptures,  211 

Chap.  VII. — Departure  of  Dr.  Buchanan  from  Calcutta 
to  the  coast  of  Malabar — Objects  of  the  journey — 
Approach  to  Juggernaut — A  disaster — Sight  of 
Juggernaut — The  temple — English  residents — Fes- 
tival— Description  of  the  idol — Worshippers — A 
voluntary  human  sacrifice — Expenses  of  the  idol,    257 

Chap.  VIII. — Tranquebar  mission — Ziegenbalg — Tan- 
jore — Swartz — Kohlhoff— Rajah  of  Tanjore — Hin- 
doo temples — Sunday  in  Tanjore — Order  of  wor- 
ship— Sattianaden — His  sermon — Second  visit  to 
therajah— Presents— Tritchinopoly^—Pohle— Want 
of  Bibles— Madura— Ceylon—Cinnamon  groves,     280 


CONTENTS.  7 

Page. 

Chap.  IX. — Syrian  Christians — Their  origin — Condi- 
tion at  the  arrival  of  the  Portuguese — Persecution 
by  the  Portuguese — Constancy  of  the  churches 
in  the  interior — Travancore — Chinganoor — Ca- 
thedral— Other  churches — Syrian  clergy — Inte- 
resting conference — Scriptures — Versions — Litur- 
gy of  the  Syrian  churches — Doctrines — Metropoli- 
tan—Letter to  Henry  Thornton,  Esq.  304 

Chap.  X. — Prophecies  respecting  the  Jews — Jerusa- 
lem, or  White  Jews — Ancient  record  on  a  brass 
plate — Black  Jews — Ten  Tribes — Want  of  the 
Scriptures,  especially  the  Prophets,  among  the 
Jews  of  the  East,  329 

Chap.  XI. — Romish  church  in  the  East — Its  corrup- 
tions— Journey  to  Goa — Visit  to  the  Inquisitor — 
Conversation  respecting  the  Inquisition — Dr.  Bu- 
chanan insists  on  seeing  the  interior  of  the  prison 
— Gains  permission— Escapes  without  injury,  352 

Chap.  XII.— Dr.  Buchanan's  return  to  Calcutta— State 
of  the  college — Prepares  a  paper  of  "  intelligence," 
which  is  refused  a  place  in  the  public  newspaper 
— Plan  of  "the  Christian  Institution  in  the  East 
for  translating  the  Holy  Scriptures" — Prepares  to 
return  to  England— Letter  to  Lord  Minto — Sub- 
stance of  his  Memorial  to  Government — Farewell 
Sermon— Letter  to  Major  Sandys — Visits  Ceylon 
— Crosses  over  to  Cochin — Arrives  at  Bombay — 
Malayalim  Gospels— Elephanta— Sails  for  Eng- 
land, 384 

Chap.  XIII.— Dr.  Buchanan's  arrival  in  England — 
Seeks  for  Mr.  Newton,  but  finds  him  dead— 'Dis- 
appointed at  not  finding  his  "Christian  Institu- 
tion" published— Account  of  the  adjudication  of 
his  university  prizes— Character  of  the  sermons 
and  discourses— Their  eflfect— Efi^ect  of  his  "  Me- 


8  CONTENTS. 

Page, 
moir"  of  an  ecclesiastical  establishment— Pamph- 
lets occasioned  by  it — Finds  his  daughters  well 
— Visits  his  mother  iii  Scotland— Good  news  from 
India— "Star  in  the  Eas-t  " — Visit  to  Oxford— Se- 
cond marriage — Life  of  Swartz — Sermon  before 
the  Church  Missionary  Society— Two  sermons  at 
Cambridge  on  commencement  Sunday — Health 
fails — Plan  of  a  journey  to  Palestine — Death  of 
his  wife — Effect  of  this  bereavement  on  his  own 
mind,  424 

Ciup  XIV.— Death  of  TIenry  Thornton,  Esq.— Dr. 
Buchanan's  death — Burial — Monumental  inscrip- 
tion— Religious  character— Clnalifications  as  a 
writer  and  a  speaker — Official  fidelity— Social 
virtues,  -  445 

Conclusion. — Remarks  on  certain  traits  of  Dr.  Bu- 
chanan's character,  by  the  American  editor,  464 


siisKi®itia» 


CHAPTER  I. 


Early  JUatory, — Conversion, 

It  is  by  no  means  uncommon  in  the  history  of 
those  who  have  in  any  manner  distinguished  them- 
selves among  their  contemporaries,  to  find  them 
deriving  no  peculiar  honor  from  their  ancestors, 
but  rather  reflecting  it  upon  them.  Of  the  truth  of 
this  observation,  an  instance  is  afforded  by  the  sub- 
ject of  the  following  memoirs.  But  if  the  biogra- 
pher of  this  excellent  man  is  unable  to  deduce  his 
descent  from  the  possessors  of  worldly  rank  or 
talent,  an  honor  which  may  be  unjustly  depre- 
ciated as  it  is  sometimes  unduly  prized,  he  may  at 
least  assert,  that  his  immediate  progenitors  were 
endowed  with  more  than  an  ordinary  share  of 
christian  piety  ;  an  honor,  in  his  estimation,  of  a 
higher  nature  ;  and  a  blessing,  which,  as  he  pecu- 
liarly valued  it,  was  not  only  a  source  of  pleasing 
and  grateful  recollection,  but  might  not  improbably 
form  one  link  in  the  chain  of  causes  which  led  to 
his  own  distinguished  worth  and  usefulness. 

Claudius  Buchanan  was  born  at  Carabuslang, 


10  MEMCIR    OF    DH.    DUCIIANAN. 

near  Glasgow,  on  the  12lh  of  Mardi,  17G6.  He 
was  the  son  of  Mr.  Alexandor  Eiicliaiiaii,  a  man  of 
respectable  learning  and  of  excellent  character, 
wlio  was  highly  esteemed  in  various  parts  of  Scot- 
land as  a  hiborious  and  faithful  teacher,  and  who 
a  few  mf)nths  previous  to  liis  death  wa*  appointed 
rector  of  the  o^rammar-school  of  Falkiik. 

His  mother  was  the  dauo^hter  of  Mr,  Claudius 
Soniers,  one  of  the  elders  of  the  church  at  Cam- 
buslang  about  the  period  of  the  extraordinary  oc- 
currences which  t<jok  place  in  that  valley,  in  con- 
sequence of  the  preaching  of  the  celebrated  Air. 
Whitfield,  in  the  year  1742,  by  which,  it  is  un- 
questionable, that  many  were  excited  to  a  deep 
and  lasting  sense  of  real  religion.  Among  this 
number  was  the  grandfather  of  the  subject  of  this 
memoir,  whose  piety  was  happily  exemplified  by 
bis  daughter,  the  mother  of  Buchanan.  By  both 
these  excellent  persons  he  appears  to  have  been 
carefully  trained,  from  his  earliest  years,  in  reli- 
gious principles  and  habits.  He  is  described,  by 
one  of  his  surviving  relatives,  as  having  been  dis- 
tinguished from  bis  youth  by  a  lively  and  engaging 
disposition.  He  is  said  also  to  have  recollected  the 
serious  impressions  which  were  sometimes  made 
upon  his  mind  by  the  devotions  of  the  paternal 
roof,  and  by  the  admonitions  which  his  grandfa- 
ther^, from  whom  he  derived  his  name,  and  who 
seems  to  have  regarded  him  with  peculiar  afiec- 


EARLT  niSTonr.  11 

lion,  was  accustomed  to  address  to  him  occasion- 
ally in  iiis  study.  And  though,  as  it  will  afteivvaids 
appear,  the  instructions  an.d  example  of  these 
pious  relatives  were  not  immediately  pi'oductive 
of  any  deciJed  and  permanent  effect,  he  must  be 
added  to  the  numl)er  of  those  who  ultimately  deri- 
ved essential  benefit  from  having  been  brought  up 
"in  the  nurture  and  admonition  of  the  Lord;" 
and  consequently,  as  aftbrding  fresh  encouragement 
to  religious  parents  to  pursue  a  course  which  has 
been  so  frequently  crowned  with  success,  and 
which  is  seldom,  it  may  be  hoped,  altogether  in 
vain. 

In  the  year  1773,  at  the  age  of  seven  years, 
young  Buchanan  was  sent  to  a  grammar-school  at 
Inverary  in  Argyleshire,  where  he  received  the 
rudiments  of  his  education,  and  is  said  to  have 
made  considerable  proficiency  in  the  Latin  and 
Greek  languages.  He  continued  at  Inverary  till 
some  time  in  the  year  1779,  when  he  was  invited 
to  spend  the  vacation  with  his  school-fellow,  John 
Campbell,  of  Airds,  near  the  island  of  Mull  ;  and 
in  the  following  year  he  received  an  appointment 
as  tutor  to  the  two  sons  of  Mr.  Campbell  of  Dun- 
Btafnage,  one  of  whom  was,  in  the  year  1S03,  cap- 
tain of  the  East  India  Company's  ship  United 
Kingdom.  As  he  had  then  only  just  completed  his 
fourteenth  year,  the  very  appointment  to  such  an 
office  is  in  itself  honorable  to  his  character,  and 


12  MEMOIR   OP   DR.    BUCHANAN. 

his  continuance  in  it  during  nearly  two  years  may 
suffice  to  show  that  his  conduct  proved  satisfac- 
tory to  his  employer.  About  this  time  he  was 
again  under  considerable  impressions  of  a  reli- 
gious nature,  which  he  communicated  to  his  ex- 
cellent grandfather,  who  carefully  cherished  them, 
and  assured  him  of  his  prayers.  For  a  few  months 
he  continued  in  this  promising  course,  spending 
much  time  in  devotion  amidst  the  rocks  on  the 
sea-shore  near  which  he  was  then  residing  :  but 
at  length  his  serious  thoughts  were  dissipated  by 
the  society  of  an  irreligious  companion,  and  his 
goodness,  like  that  of  many  a  hopeful  youth,  van- 
ished "  as  a  morning  cloud,  and  as  the  early  dew;" 
nor  was  it  till  many  years  afterwards,  that  pain- 
ful and  salutary  convictions  led  him  to  seek  that 
God  whose  early  invitations  he  had  ungratefully 
refused. 

The  residence  of  Buchanan  atDunstafTiage  might 
probably  have  been  longer,  had  it  not  interfered 
with  a  necessary  attention  to  the  progress  of  his 
own  education.  In  the  year  17S2  he  therefore  left 
the  family  of  Mr.  Campbell,  and  proceeded  to  the 
university  of  Glasgow;  where  he  remained  during 
that  and  the  following  year,  diligently  pursuing  the 
various  studies  of  the  place.  Whether  his  academi- 
cal course  was  interrupted  by  the  failure  of  his  pe- 
cuniary resources,  or  was  the  result  of  deliberation 
and  choice,  is  uncertain.    It  appears  only  that  he 


EARLY   HISTORY.  13 

left  Glasgow  in  the  year  1784,  and  went  to  the 
island  of  Islay,  for  the  purpose  of  becoming  tutor 
to  the  sons  of  Mr.  Campbell  of  Knockmelly.  In  the 
following  year,  from  some  cause,  obviously  not  un- 
favorable to  his  character,  we  find  him  removed  to 
Carradell  in  Kintyre,  and  performing  the  same  of- 
fice to  the  sons  of  Mr.  Campbell  of  that  place.  In 
the  year  17S6,  however,  Buchanan  returned  to  the 
college  at  Glasgow;  and  a  certificate  in  that  year, 
from  the  Professor  of  Logic,  testifies  not  only  that 
he  had  regularly  attended  upon  the  public  lectures 
of  that  class,  but  that,  in  the  usual  examination  and 
exercises,  he  had  given  commendable  proofs  of  at- 
tention, diligence,  and  success  in  the  prosecution 
of  his  studies  ;  and  that  he  had  behaved  v/ith  all  suit- 
able propriety  of  conduct  and  manners.  At  the 
conclusion  of  the  academical  session  he  returned 
to  Carradell,  and  resumed  his  employment  as  a  tu- 
tor ;  in  which  capacity  it  is  presumed  that  he  con- 
tinued until  the  commencement  of  the  autumn  in 
the  following  year;  when  he  quitted  his  native 
country,  under  very  singular  circumstances,  and 
entered  upon  a  project,  on  which,  as  it  afterwards 
appeared,  depended  the  future  tenor  of  his  life. 

It  was  the  desire  of  the  parents  of  Mr,  Buchanan, 
from  his  earliest  years,  that  he  should  be  prepared 
for  the  ministry  in  the  church  of  Scotland  :  but  be- 
ing naturally  of  an  ardent  and  excursive  turn  of 
mind,  he,  at  the  age  of  seventeen,  during  his  first 

Buchanan.  <» 


14  MEMum    OF    DR.    BUCHANAN. 

residence  in  the  university  of  Glasgow,  conceived 
the  design  of  making  the  tour  of  Europe  on  fool ; 
that  being  the  only  method  of  traveling,  upon  which 
his  slender  finances  would  allow  him  to  calculate. 
His  chief  view  in  this  romantic  project  was,  doubt- 
less, to  see  the  world  ;  yet  not,  as  he  afterwards  de- 
clared, without  some  vague  and  undefined  inten- 
tion of  applying  the  information  which  he  might 
collect  during  his  tour  to  some  useful  purpose.  It 
was  not,  however,  till  nearly  four  years  afterwards^, 
during  which,  as  we  have  seen,  he  was  diligently 
employed  in  acquiring  and  imparting  knowledge, 
that  a  circumstance  occurred,  which,  though  it  did 
not  originally  suggest  this  design,  certainly  tended 
to  hasten  his  departure  from  Scotland.  This  was 
an  imprudent  attachment  to  a  young  lady,  who 
happened  to  be  on  a  visit  to  the  family  in  which  he 
was  then  residing,  and  who  was  superior  to  him- 
self in  birth  and  fortune.  The  aftection  was  mutual, 
but  the  disparity  of  their  rank  and  station  seemed 
to  form  an  insuperable  barrier  to  their  union.  Mr. 
Buchanan  became  in  consequence  very  unhappy, 
and  in  the  height  of  his  passion  recurred  to  his  fa- 
vorite and  long-cherished  plan  of  a  foreign  tour ;  in 
the  course  of  which,  with  all  the  sanguine  expec- 
tation and  the  inexperience  incident  to  his  feelings 
and  his  age,  he  hoped  to  advance  his  fortune,  and 
returning  to  his  native  country,  to  obtain  the  object 
of  his  wishes.  Strange  and  unpromising  as  this  pro- 


EARLY    HISTORY.  lo 

ject  undoubtedly  was,  he  was  eager  to  accomplish 
it.  But  though  his  thoughtless  ardor  reconciled 
him  to.  the  culpable  expedient  of  deceiving  his  pa- 
rents, he  was  unwilling  to  leave  them  clandestine- 
ly. For  the  purpose,  therefore,  both  of  avoiding 
any  opposition  to  his  scheme,  and  of  relieving  them 
from  uneasiness,  he  invented  a  story,  which,  en- 
gaged as  he  had  long  been  in  tuition,  seemed  by 
no  means  improbable.  He  pretended  that  he  had 
been  invited  by  an  English  gentleman  to  accom- 
pany his  son  upon  a  tour  to  the  continent ;  and  as 
this  engagement  not  only  offered  some  present  ad- 
vantages, but  held  out  flattering  hopes  of  his  future 
advancement  in  life,  not  inconsistent  with  their  ori- 
ginal intentions,  his  friends  consented  to  the  pro- 
posal, and  permitted  him  to  leave  Scotland. 

Of  this  singular  expedition,  and  of  his  subsequent 
history  during  several  years,  Mr.  Buchanan  long 
afterwards  gave  several  distinct  but  consistent  nar- 
ratives, from  which  the  following  account  is  ex- 
tracted :  After  briefly  mentioning  the  circumstances 
which  have  been  previously  stated  respecting  his 
education  and  studies,  and  the  schemes  which  he 
had  devised  for  effecting  his  departure  from  his 
native  country  and  friends,  and  his  intended  travels 
upon  the  continent,  Mr.  Buchanan  suggests  the  ob- 
vious question,  how  he  was  to  accomplish  such  a 
plan,  destitute  as  he  was  of  pecuniary  resources. 
To  this  he  replies,  that  tl^e  greater  his  difficulties 


16  MEMOIR    OF    DR.    BUCHANAN. 

were,  the  more  romantic  would  his  tour  appear ; 
and  then  proceeds  as  follows. 

"  I  had  the  example  of  the  celebrated  Dr.  Gold- 
smith before  me,  who  travelled  through  Euroj^e  on 
foot,  and  supported  himself  by  playing  on  his  flute. 
I  could  play  a  little  on  the  vi»)lin,  and  on  this  I 
relied  for  occasional  support  during  my  long  and 
various  travels. 

"  In  August,  17S7,  having  put  on  plain  clothes 
becoming  my  apparent  situation,  I  left  Edinburgh 
on  foot  with  the  intention  of  travelling  to  London, 
and  thence  to  the  continent :  that  very  violin 
which  I  now  have,  and  the  case  which  contains  it, 
I  had  under  my  arm,  and  thus  I  travelled  onward. 
After  I  had  proceeded  some  days  on  my  journey, 
and  had  arrived  at  a  part  of  the  country  where  I 
thought  I  could  not  be  known,  I  called  at  gentle- 
men's houses,  and  farm-houses,  where  I  was  in 
general  kindly  lodged.  They  were  very  well 
pleased  with  my  playing  reels  to  them,  (for  I 
played  them  better  than  I  can  now,)  and  I  some- 
times received  five  shilHngs,  sometimes  half  a 
crown,  and  sometimes  nothing  but  my  dinner. 
Wherever  I  went,  people  seemed  to  be  struck  a 
little  by  my  appearance,  particularly  if  they  en- 
tered into  conversation  with  me.  They  were  often 
very  inquisitive,  and  I  was  sometimes  at  a  loss 
what  to  say.    I  professed  to  be  a  musician  travelling 


EARLY    HISTORY.  17 

through  the  country  for  his  subsistence  :  but  this 
appeared  very  strange  to  some,  and  they  wished 
to  know  where  I  obtained  my  learning ;  for  some- 
times pride,  and  sometimes  accident  would  call 
forth  expressions,  in  the  course  of  conversation, 
which  excliited  their  surprise.  I  was  often  invited 
to  stay  for  some  time  at  a  particular  place  ;  but 
this  I  was  afraid  of,  lest  I  might  be  discovered.  It 
was  near  a  month,  I  believe,  before  I  arrived  on 
the  borders  of  England,  and  in  that  time  many 
singular  occurrences  befel  me.  I  once  or  twice 
met  persons  whom  I  had  known,  and  narrowly  es- 
caped discovery.  Sometimes  I  had  nothing  to  eat, 
and  had  no  where  to  rest  at  night ;  but,  notwith- 
standing, I  kept  steady  to  my  purpose,  and  pur- 
sued my  journey. 

"  Before,  however,  I  reached  the  borders  of 
England,  I  would  gladly  have  returned;  but  I 
could  not :  the  die  was  cast ;  ray  pride  would  have 
impelled  me  to  suffer  death,  I  think,  rather  than  to 
have  exposed  my  folly;  and  I  pressed  forward. 

"  When  I  arrived  at  Newcastle  I  felt  tired  of 
my  long  journey,  and  found  that  it  was  indeed 
hard  to  live  on  the  benevolence  of  others  :  I  there- 
fore resolved  to  proceed  to  London  by  water ;  for 
I  did  not  want  to  travel  in  my  own  country,  but 
on  the  continent. 

"  I  accordingly  embark etl   in  a  collier  at  North 
Shields,  and  sailed  for  London.  On  the  third  night 
2* 


IS  MEMOIR    OF    DR.    EUCHANAN. 

of  the  voyage  wc  were  in  danger  of  being  cast 
away  during  a  gale  of  wind  ;  and  then,  for  the  first 
time,  I  began  to  reflect  seriously  on  my  situation." 

During  the  violence  of  the  storm,  as  he  after- 
wards acknowledged  to  a  friend,  Mr.  Buchanan 
felt  as  if  the  judgment  of  God,  as  in  the  case  of 
Jonah,  was  overtaking  him  ;  but,  unlike  the  re- 
penting prophet,  no  sooner  had  the  tempest  of  the 
elements  subsided,  than  the  agitation  of  his  mind 
also  passed  away.  He  arrived  safely  in  London  on 
the  second  of  September. 

''  But  by  this  time,"  he  continues,  in  one  of  his 
letters  referred  to,  "  my  spirits  were  nearly  ex- 
hausted by  distress  and  poverty.  I  now  relin- 
quished every  idea  of  going  abroad.  I  saw  such  a 
visionary  scheme  in  its  true  light,  and  resolved,  if 
possible,  to  procure  some  situation,  as  an  usher,  or 
clerk,  or  any  employment,  whereby  I  might  derive 
a  subsistence  :  but  I  was  unsuccessful.  I  lived 
some  time,  in  obscure  lodgings,  by  selling  my 
clothes  and  books ;  for  I  did  not  attempt  to  obtain 
any  assistance  by  my  skill  in  music,  lest  I  should 
be  discovered  by  some  persons  who  might  know 
me  or  my  family.  I  was  in  a  short  time  reduced  to 
the  lowest  extreme  of  wretchedness  and  want. 
Alas  !  I  had  not  sometimes  bread  to  eat.  Little 
did  my  mother  think,  when  she  dreamt  that  she 


EARLY    HISTORY.  19 

saw  her  son  fatigued  with  his  wanderings,  and  op- 
pressed with  a  load  of  wo,  glad  to  lie  down  and 
sleep  away  his  cares  on  a  little  straw,  that  her 
dream  was  so  near  the  truth  !  What  a  reverse  of 
fortune  was  this  !  A  few  months  before  I  had  lived 
in  splendor  and  happiness  !  But  even  in  this  ex- 
tremity of  misery  my  eyes  were  not  opened.  I  saw 
indeed  my  folly,  but  1  saw  not  ray  sin  ;  my  pride, 
even  then,  was  unsubdued,  and  I  was  constantly 
anticipating  scenes  of  future  grandeur,  and  indulg- 
ing myself  in  the  pleasures  of  the  imagination. 

"'  After  I  had  worn  out  many  months  in  this  mi- 
sery, observing  one  da}'  an  advertisement  in  a 
news-paper  for  a  '  clerk  to  an  attorney,'  I  oflered 
myself  and  was  accepted.  I  was  much  liked,  and 
soon  made  fiiends.  I  then  obtained  a  better  situa- 
tion with  another  gentleman  in  the  law,  and,  lastly, 
engaged  with  a  solicitor  of  respectable  character 
and  connections  in  the  city,  with  whom  I  remained 
nearly  three  years.  During  all  this  time  I  had  suf- 
ficient allowance  to  appear  as  a  gentleman  ;  my 
desire  for  going  abroad  gradually  abated,  and  I  be- 
gan to  think  that  I  should  make  the  law  my  profes- 
sion for  life.  But,  during  a  great  part  of  this  time  I 
corresponded  with  my  friends  in  Scotland,  as  from 
abroad,  writing  very  rarely,  but  always  giving  my 
mother  pleasing  accounts  of  my  health  and  situation.' 

Notwithstanding  the  preceding  brief  observation 


20  MEMOIR    OF    DR.    BUCHANAN. 

that  his  allowance  from  his  employers  enabled  him 
to  make  a  genteel  appearance,  there  are  various 
intimations,  in  a  memorandum-book  kept  by  Mr. 
Buchanan,  during  a  part  of  this  period,  that  he  was 
frequently  a  sufferer  from  the  pressure  of  poverty  ; 
nor  is  this  to  be  wondered  at,  when  it  is  known  that 
the  utmost  salary  which  he  received  amounted  only 
to  forty  pounds  per  annum.  Accordingly,  it  ap- 
pears, from  several  notes  in  the  account-book 
which  has  been  referred  to,  that  he  was  sometimes 
under  the  necessity  of  pledging  articles  of  clothing, 
and  in  one  instance  his  watch,  for  the  purpose  of 
procuring  a  little  ready  money  ;  and  even  this 
painful  expedient  did  not  always  afford  him  such  a 
supply  as  to  prevent  him  from  occasionally  record- 
ing that  he  had  been  obliged  to  go  without  a  break- 
fast or  a  supper ;  and  once  that  he  had  neither 
breakfasted  nor  dined.  It  must,  however,  be  ac- 
knowledged, that  while  this  humble  cash  account 
is  chiefly  made  up  of  his  expenditure  upon  the  ne- 
cessaries of  life,  Mr.  Buchanan  seems  to  have 
wasted  not  a  little  of  his  scanty  allowance  on  pub- 
lic amusements ;  amongst  which  the  theatre  fre- 
quently occurs,  and  sometimes  debating  societies. 
From  one  of  the  brief  memoranda  contained  in 
a  pocket-book,  from  which  the  preceding  circum- 
stances are  derived,  and  which  are  chiefly  written 
in  Latin,  it  appears  that  Mr.  Buchanan's  father  died 
on  the  24th  of  August,  178S,  precisely  a  twelve- 


EARLY    HISTORY.  21 

month  after  his  own  departure  from  Scotland. 
This  event  was  probably  communicated  to  him  by 
his  excellent  mother,  and  must,  it  may  be  reasona- 
bly supposed,  have  awakened  some  peculiarly  dis- 
tressing feelings  in  the  mind  of  her  absent  son, 
conscious  as  he  must  have  been  of  the  deception 
which  he  was  practising  upon  their  unsuspecting 
confidence.  No  symptom,  however,  of  the  inge- 
nuous shame,  which,  it  maybe  hoped,  he  could  not 
but  occasionally  feel  for  such  misconduct,  is  appa- 
rent in  his  diary.  He  merely  mentions  that  his 
widowed  parent  had  written  to  him  in  the  spring 
of  17S9,  upon  the  mournful  subject  of  a  monument 
to  his  late  father;  to  which  he  replied  by  a  letter 
dated  the  12th  of  May,  from  Florence,  which  he 
despatched  on  the  25th  following.  A  subsequent 
entry  notices  his  disappointment  in  not  again  hear- 
ing from  his  mother,  whom,  amidst  all  his  wander- 
ings from  the  path  of  integrity  and  virtue,  he  evi- 
dently regarded  with  unfeigned  reverence  and 
affection  ;  while  another  states  the  arrival  of  an 
answer  from  her  to  a  recent  letter  of  inquiry  from 
himself,  which,  either  from  the  favorable  account 
of  his  parent's  welfare,  or  its  salutary  influence 
upon  his  own  mind,  appears  to  have  afforded  him 
much  pleasure. 

It  cannot,  however,  be  a  matter  of  surprise  to 
any  one  who  considers  the  imprudent  manner  in 
which  Mr.  Buchanan  had  left  his  native  country, 


22  MEMOIR    OF    DR.    RUCIIAXAr;. 

the  deceit  which  he  was  practising  upon  his  friends, 
the  faint  prospect  which  he  could  reasonably  en- 
tertain of  any  considerable  success  in  the  world, 
and,  above  all,  the  pious  education  which  he  had 
received,  to  find  that  the  memoranda  in  question 
exhibit  frequent  marks  of  his  inward   perplexity 
and  unhappiness.  Thus,  on  the  10th  of  May,  1789, 
he  records,  in  Latin,  with  an  emphasis  of  expres- 
sion which  evidently  proves  the  depth  and  sinceri- 
ty of  the  feelings  with  which  he  wrote  :  "  I  have 
lived,  I  know  not  how — in  a  state  of  forgetful n ess, 
or  intoxication — to  this  day  !"  And  on  the  15th  of 
July  following,  he  briefly  extends  the  same  painful 
confession  to  that  time.  Within  three  days  after  the 
first  of  these  dates,  Mr.  Buchanan  was  seized  with 
a  severe  attack  of  fever,  during  which  he  observes 
that  he  had  experienced,  as  might  very  naturally 
be  expected,  most  uncomfortable  reflections  on  his 
present  situation.    These,  however,  appear  to  have 
made  no  deep  or  lasting  impression  upon  him,  but, 
as  in  too  many  similar  instances,  to  have  vanished 
with  the  temporary  alarm  which  occasioned  them. 
Accordingly  he  soon  afterwards  states  that  lie  had 
on  that  morning  written  part  of  a  letter  to  his  mo- 
ther, and  with  the  careless  levity  which  in  irreli- 
gious and  impenitent  minds  returns,  when  they  are 
relieved  from  the  immediate  fear  of  punishment, 
had  altered  his  "  plan  of  death  and  misfortune,  to 
that  of  fortune  and  festivity." 


EARLY    HISTORY.  23 

He  laments  also,  that  on  his  recovery  he  had 
broken  some  salutary  resolutions  which  he  had 
made  during  his  illness,  and  adds,  with  that  fretful 
and  impotent  violence  which  characterizes  those 
who  are  irritated  rather  than  humbled  by  the  con- 
sciousness of  their  weakness,  and  are  ignorant  of 
its  only  effectual  remedy,  "  I  sivear  I'll  do  so  no 
more.  O !  that  I  knew  how  to  persevere  in  good 
resolutions,  as  well  as  to  make  them  !  This  has 
been  my  failing  from  my  infancy."  Who  has  not 
been  compelled  to  make  the  same  humiliating  re- 
flection, until  acquainted  with  Him  of  whom  the 
subject  of  these  memoirs  was  as  yet  practically  ig- 
norant I  without  whom  we  can  do  nothing,  but  by 
whose  gracious  assistance  the  christian  can  do  all 
things  ! 

Amon^  the  various  notices  of  his  feelinors  and 
engagements,  which  occur  in  these  memoranda, 
there  are  several,  which  prove  that,  amidst  the  in- 
cessant labor  of  an  employment  which  occupied 
nearly  twelve  hours  of  each  day,  Mr.  Buchanan  oc- 
casionally contrived  to  devote,  a  part  of  his  scanty 
leisure  to  literary  pursuits.  Unhappily,  indeed,  he 
was  at  this  period  so  little  under  the  influence  of 
i-eligion,  that  the  Sabbath  was  too  often  spent  in 
the  study  of  Virgil  and  Horace ;  though  at  other 
times  his  reading  on  that  sacred  day  appears  to 
have  been  of  a  graver  nature.  But  the  latter  hours 
of  his  evenings,  which  were  not  dedicated  to  amuse- 


24  MEMOTR   OF    DR.   BUCHANAN. 

ment,  seem  to  have  been  laudabW  employed  in 
storirjg  his  mind  witli  classical  and  geneial  know- 
ledge, and  occasionally  in  improving  his  memory 
by  artificial  rules  and  practice. 

Though  the  irreligious  state,  in  which  Mr.  Bu- 
chanan was  at  this  time  livinsr,  led  him  too  TCneral 
ly  to  neglect  public  worship,  his  early  habits  still 
induced  him  sometimes  to  enter  the  house  of  God. 
Upon  one  of  these  occasions  he  appeals  to  have 
been  much  struck  with  the  conduct  of  a  young 
friend,  who  was  so  deeply  alarmed  while  the 
preacher  was  displaying  the  terrors  of  the  Lord  in 
the  future  punishment  of  the  wicked,  that  he  rose 
up,  leaving  his  hat  behind  him,  and  walked  out  of 
the  church.  It  is  understood  that  Mr.  Buchanan 
considere'd  this  person  as  having  been  afterwards 
made  spiritually  useful  to  him. 

Two  short  notes  in  the  summer  of  the  year  17S9 
indicate  that  there  were,  even  at  that  period,  sea- 
sons in  which  he  thought  much  and  seriously  upon 
his  own  state,  and  upon  religious  subjects;  during 
which  his  reflections  were  sometimes  gloomy  and 
desponding,  and  resembling  "  the  sighing  of  the 
prisoner"  for  deliverance;  and  at  others  cheered 
by  a  faint  and  distant  hope  of  one  day  enjoying, 
through  the  infinite  grace  of  God,  the  comforts  of 
religion. 

In  the  following  year  some  traces  occur,  in  the 
brief  journal  from  which  the  preceding  circum- 


EARLY    HISTORY.  25 

Stances  are  extracted,  of  seriousness  in  Lis  mind. 
He  notices  a  religious  conversation  witli  a  friend, 
and  adds,  that  he  had  in  consequence  thought  se- 
riously of  a  reformation.  He  mentions  emphatical- 
ly a  season  of  private  prayer,  and  his  intention  of 
purchasing  a  new  Bible,  when  he  could  afford  it ; 
and  while  he  confesses,  on  one  occasion,  with  evi* 
dent  regret,  his  disinclination  to  religion,  and  al- 
leges as  one  of  the  immediate  causes,  or  symptoms, 
of  this  evil,  the  indulgence  of  morning  slumbers,  he 
observes,  on  another,  that  he  had  declined  the  in- 
vitation of  a  friend  to  a  visit  in  the  country  on  the 
following  Sunday,  upon  religious  principle,  though 
he  did  not  at  the  moment  distinctly  avow  it.  All 
these  are  circumstances  indicative  of  a  mind  awak- 
ing from  the  deadly  sleep  of  sin  to  the  life  of 
righteousness,  and  introductory  to  that  important 
chano'e  of  sentiment  and  conduct  which  was  now 
approaching. 

It  is  possible,  indeed,  that  some  may  be  at  a  loss 
to  understand  the  meaning  of  this  language,  or  to 
conceive  the  necessity  of  any  other  alteration  in  the 
religious  character  of  Mr.  Buchanan,  than  the  cor- 
rection of  a  few  venial  errors  and  triflinsf  irresfu- 
larities,  or  the  supply  of  certain  obvious  omissions 
in  his  conduct.  The  determination  of  this  question 
must  undoubtedly  depend  upon  the  general  views 
of  those  who  consider  it.  In  proportion  as  the 
standard  of  practical  religion  is  either  elevated  or 

Buchanan.  «^ 


2S  MEMOIR    OF    DR.    BUCHANAN. 

depressed,  will  be  the  judgment  of  every  one  as  to 
the  actual  state,  at  this  period  of  his  life,  of  the 
suV)ject  oi^  these  memoirs.  If  slight  views  are  en- 
tertained of  the  evil  of  sin,  of  the  guilt,  misery,  arid 
danger  of  a  sensual  and  worldly  life ;  and  of  the 
nature  and  extent  of  christian  faith  and  holiness; 
the  moral  and  religious  deficiencies  of  Mi-.  Bu- 
chanan will  certainly  appear  trivial  and  unimpor- 
tant. But  if,  as  the  Scriptures  unequivocally  assert, 
to  live  in  the  habitual  neglect  of  God,  though  a 
formal  acknowledgment  of  his  being  and  attributes 
may  be  professed,  is  virtual  impiety  ;  to  avow  the 
name  of  christian,  but  to  refuse  the  homage  of  the 
heart  to  Jesus  Christ  as  a  Saviour,  is  real  unbelief; 
and  occasionally  to  indulge  in  wilful  sin,  though 
the  external  manners  may  be  decent  and  correct, 
is  practical  ungodliness ;  then  was  it  evidently  ne- 
cessary that  a  great  and  ?'adical  cliavge  should  be 
effected  in  Mr.  Buchanan's  dispositions  and  con- 
duct;  then  was  it  essential  to  his  present  and  fu- 
ture happiness  that  he  should  "  repent  and  believe 
the  Gospel." 

That  this  was  the  conviction  of  Mr.  Buchanan 
himself,  plainly  appears  from  his  own  declarations 
in  the  letters  from  which  some  preceding  extracts 
have  been  made.  "  Since  my  coming  to  London," 
he  observes,  "  until  June  last,  I  led  a  very  dissi- 
pated, irreligious  life.  Some  gross  sins  I  avoided; 
but  pride  was  in  my  heart ;  I  profaned  the  Lord's 


EARLY    HISTORY.  27 

day  without  rcstVcaint,  and  never  tlioiight  of  any  re- 
ligious duty.  Thus  I  lived  till  within  these  few 
inontlis,  exactly  three  years  since  my  voluntary 
banisliment  from  my  native  country  ;  three  tedious 
years  ;  and  for  any  thing  I  couhl  have  done  my- 
self, 1  might  have  remained  in  the  same  state  for 
tliirty  years  longer.  But  the  period  was  now  ar- 
rived when  the  mercy  of  God,  which  had  always 
accompanied  me,  was  to  be  manifested  in  a  singu- 
lar manner.  I  had  a  very  strong  sense  of  religion 
wheji  I  was  about  the  age  of  fourteen  ;  and  I  used 
often  to  reflect  on  that  period;  but  I  had  not,  I 
believe,  the  least  idea  of  the  nature  of  the  Gospel. 
It  was  in  the  year  1790  that  my  heart  was  first 
effectually  impressed,  in  consequence  of  an  ac- 
quaintance with  a  religious  young  man." 

Of  the  person  thus  briefly  mentioned,  and  of  the 
important  effects  which  resulted  from  one  remark- 
able meeting  with  him,  the  following  is  a  more 
distinct  and  detailed  account : 

"  In  the  month  of  June  last,"  observes  Mr.  Bu- 
chanan, writing  in  February,  1791,  "  on  a  Sunday 
evening,  a  gentleman  of  my  acquaintance  called 
upon  me.  I  knew  him  to  be  a  serious  young  man, 
and  out  of  complaisance  to  him  I  gave  the  conver- 
sation a  religious  turn.  Among  other  things,  I 
asked  him  whether   he   believe4   that  there  was 


28 


MEMOIR    OF    DR.    BUCHANAN. 


such  a  thing  as  divine  grace  ;  whether  or  not  it 
was  a  fiction  imposed  by  grave  and  austere  per- 
sons from  their  own  fancies.  He  took  occasion 
from  this  inquiry  to  enlarge  much  upon  the  sub- 
ject; he  spoke  with  zeal  and  earnestness,  and 
chiefly  in  scripture  language,  and  concluded  with 
a  very  affecting  address  to  the  conscience  and  the 
heart.  I  had  not  the  least  desire,  that  I  recollect, 
of  being  benefited  by  this  conversation  ;  but  while 
he  spoke,  I  listened  to  him  with  earnestness  ;  and 
before  I  was  aware,  a  most  powerful  impression 
was  made  upon  my  mind,  and  I  conceived  the  in- 
stant resolution  of  reforming  my  life. 

"  On  that  evenincr  I  had  an  encjaoement  which  I 
could  not  now  approve  :  notwithstanding  what  had 
passed,  however,  I  resolved  to  go ;  but  as  I  went 
along,  and  had  time  to  reflect  on  what  I  had  heard, 
I  half  wished  that  it  might  not  be  kept.  It  turned 
out  as  I  desired  :  I  hurried  home,  and  locked  my- 
self up  in  my  chamber;  I  fell  on  my  knees,  and 
endeavored  to  pray  ;  but  I  could  not.  I  tried  agaiii, 
but  I  was  not  able  ;  I  thought  it  was  an  insult  to 
God  for  me  to  pray ;  I  reflected  on  my  past  sins 
with  horror,  and  spent  the  night  I  know  not  how. 
The  next  day  ray  fears  wore  off  a  little,  but  they 
soon  returned.  I  anxiously  awaited  the  arrival  of 
Sunday;  but  when  it  came  I  found  no  relief. 
After  some  time  I  communicated  my  situation  to 
my  religious  friend  :  he  prayed  with  me,  and  next 


EARLY    HISTORY.  29 

Sunday  I  went  with  him  to  liear  an  eminent  mi- 
nister. This  was  a  great  lelief  to  me  ;  I  thought  I 
had  found  a  physician  :  but,  alas!  though  I  prayed 
often  every  day,  and  often  at  night,  listlessness  and 
languor  seized  me.  Sometimes  hope,  sometimes 
fear  presented  itself,  and  I  became  very  uncom- 
fortable. 

"  Going  one  morning  to  a  bath,  I  found  on  a 
shelf  Doddtidge's  Rise  and  Progress  of  Religion 
in  the  Soul.  This  bo«)k  I  thought  just  suited  me.  I 
accordingly  read  it  with  deep  attention,  and  prayed 
over  it.  I  next  procured  Alleine's  Alarm  to  the 
Unconverted,  and  dwelt  on  it  for  some  lime.  My 
religious  friend  then  gave  me  Boston's  Fourfold 
Slate.  This  I  read  carefully,  and  I  hope  it  did  me 
some  good.  I  now  secluded  myself  entirely  from 
my  companions  on  Sunday  ;  and  during  the  week, 
the  moment  business  was  done,  I  went  home  to 
my  studies ;  and  have  since  wholly  withdiavvn  my- 
self fr(»m  pleasure  and  amusement.  In  this  man- 
ner have  I  passed  the  seven  last  months,  continu- 
ally praying  for  a  new  heart,  and  a  more  perfect 
discovery  of  my  sins.  Sometimes  I  think  I  am  ad- 
vancing a  little,  at  others  I  fear  I  am  farther  from 
heaven  than  ever.  O  the  prevalence  of  habit!  It 
is  not  without  reason  that  it  has  been  sometimes 
called  a  second  nature.  Nothing  but  the  hand  of 
the  Almighty  who  created  me  can  change  my 
heart." 

2* 


30  MEMOIR    OF    DR.    BUCHANAN. 

"  About  two  months  ago  I  wrote  my  mother 
some  particulars  of  my  state,  and  requested  her 
prayei's,  for  she  is  a  pious  woman.  In  her  answer, 
written  by  my  sister,  is  tlie  following  passage, 
*  My  mother  has  heard  much  of  Mr.  Newton, 
Rector  of  St.  Mary  Woolnoth,  London,  and  wishes 
that  you  would  cultivate  an  acquaintance  with  him, 
if  it  is  in  your  power.'  " 

It  was,  in  fact,  to  this  venerable  man  that  the 
letter,  from  which  these  as  well  as  some  preceding 
extracts  have  been  mado,  was  addressed.  Nor 
must  the  occasion  be  omitted  of  paying  a  passing 
tribute  of  respect  to  the  memory  of  that  eminently 
pious  and  useful  minister  of  Jesus  Christ.  The 
chosen  and  highly  valued  friend  of  Cowper  could 
not  indeed  have  been  a  common  or  uninteresting 
character.  He  was,  in  truth,  far  otherwise.  How- 
ever a  world,  incapalile  of  appreciating  spiiitual 
excellence,  may  be  disposed  to  treat  his  faith  as  a 
delusion,  and  his  character  as  enthusiastic,  the  his- 
tory of  Mr.  Newton  will  convince  the  candid  in- 
quirer that  the  Gospel  is  still  "  the  power  of  God  " 
to  the  conversion  and  salvation  even  of  the  chief 
of  sinners ;  while  the  urtblemi.shed  purity,  the  ac- 
tive benevolence,  the  exemplary  fidelity,  and  the 
undeviating  consistency  of  a  course  of  more  than 
forty  years,  sufficiently  illustrate  the  holy  and  prac- 
tical tendency  of  the  doctrines  which  he  embra 


EARLY    HISTORY.  31 

ced  ;  and  prove  that  the  grace  which  brought  peace 
to  his  conscience,  and  hope  to  his  soul,  at  the 
same  time  effectually  taught  him  "  to  live  soberly, 
righteously,  and  godly  in  the  world." 

The  lively  and  substantial  interest  which  Mr. 
Newton  took  in  the  situation  and  welfare  of  Mr. 
Buchanan,  is  one  amongst  many  other  instances  of 
the  christian  kindness  which  habitually  warmed 
his  heart.  The  person  who  was  thus  addressing 
him  was  at  that  time  an  utter  stranger.  After  men- 
tioning, therefore,  some  of  the  particulars  respect- 
ing his  family,  and  his  early  history,  which  have 
been  already  stated,  Mr.  Buchanan  thus  proceeds  : 

"  On  the  receipt  of  my  mother's  letter  I  imme- 
diately reflected  that  I  had  heard  there  was  a 
crowded  audience  at  a  church  in  Lombard-street. 
Thither  I  accordingly  went  the  next  Sunday  even 
ing;  and  when  you  spoke,  I  thought  I  heard  the 
words  of  eternal  life  :  I  listened  with  avidity,  and 
wished  that  you  had  preached  till  midnight."  Mr. 
Buchanan  laments,  however,  that  this  pleasing  im- 
pression was  too  soon  effaced  ;  and  that,  although 
he  constantly  attended  Mr.  Newton's  sermons  with 
raised  expectations  and  sanguine  hopes  that  he 
should  one  day  be  relieved  from  the  burthen  which 
then  oppressed  his  mind,  he  had  hitherto  been  dis- 
appointed. "  But,"  he  adds,  with  genuine  humi- 
lity, "  I  have  now  learned  how  unreasonable  was 


32  MEMOIR    OF    DR.    BUCHANAN. 

such  an  early  expectation  :  I  have  been  taught  to 
wait  ■patmitly  upon  God,  who  wailed  so  long 
for  7?ie." 

"  You  say,"  he  continues,  "  many  things  that 
touch  my  heart  deeply,  and  I  trust  your  ministry 
has  been  in  some  degree  Ijlessed  to  me  ;  but  your 
subjects  are  generally  addressed  to  those  who  are 
already  established  in  the  faith,  or  to  those  who 
have  not  sought  God  at  all.  Will  you  then  drop 
one  word  to  me  %  If  there  is  any  comfort  in  the 
word  of  life  for  such  as  I  am,  O  shed  a  little  of  it 
on  my  heart.  And  yet  I  am  sensible  that  I  am  not 
prepared  to  receive  that  comfort.  My  sins  do  not 
affect  me  as  I  wish.  All  that  I  can  speak  of  is  a 
strong  desire  to  be  converted  to  my  God.  O  sir, 
what  shall  I  do  to  inherit  eternal  life  ]  I  see  clearly 
that  I  cannot  be  happy  in  any  degree,  even  in  this 
life,  until  I  make  my  peace  with  God  :  but  how 
shall  I  m?ke  that  peace  %  If  the  world  were  my 
inheritance,  I  would  sell  it  to  purchase  that  pearl 
of  great  price. 

"  How  I  weep  when  I  read  of  the  prodigal  son 
as  descmbed  by  our  Lord  !  I  would  walk  many 
miles  to  hear  a  sermon  from  the  12th  and  13th 
verses  of  the  thirty-third  chapter  of  the  second 
book  of  Chronicles."* 

*  The  following  are  the  affecting:  verses  alluded  to  by 
Mr.  Buchanan  :  "  And  when  he  was  in  affliction,  he  besought 
the  Lord  his  God,  and  humbled  himself  greatly  before  the 


EARLY    HISTORV.  33 

After  apologizing  for  thus  intruding  upon  one 
to  whose  attention  he  had  no  personal  claim,  Mr. 
Buchanan  concludes  as  follows  : 

"  My  heart  is  overburthened  with  grief,  and 
greatly  does  it  distress  me,  that  I  must  impart  my 
sorrows  to  him  who  has  so  much  himself  to  bear.* 
My  frequent  prayer  to  God  is,  that  he  would  grant 
you  strong  consolation.  To-morrow  is  the  day  you 
have  appointed  for  a  sermon  to  young  people. 
"Will  you  remember  mc,  and  speak  some  suitable 
word,  that,  by  the  aid  of  the  blessed  Spirit,  may 
reach  my  heart  %  Whatever  becomes  of  me,  or  of 
my  labors,  T  pray  God  that  you  may  prove  success- 
ful in  your  ministry,  and  that  your  labors  may  be 
abundantly  blessed." 

The  preceding  letter  was  addressed  to  Mr.  New- 
ton anonymously ;  but  so  simply,  yet  so  forcibly 
does  it  describe  the  state  of  a  penitent,  awakened 
to  a  just  apprehension  of  his  sin  and  folly,  and 
earnestly  desiring  relief,  that  it  could  not  fail  to 
excite  in  the  mind  of  a  man  of  so  much  christian 
benevolence,  a  degree  of  lively  sympathy  with  the 
feelings,   and   of  interest  in    the  welfare,    of  the 

God  of  his  fathers,  and  prayed  unto  hitn  :  and  he  was  en- 
treated of  him,  and  heard  his  supplication." 

♦  Mr.  Newton  was  at  this  time  suffering  under  one  of  the 
severest  domestic  calamities. 


34  MEMOIR    OF    DR.    KUCIIANAN. 

writer.  His  letter,  however,  being  not  only  without 
any  signature,  but  without  any  reference  to  the 
place  of  his  residence,  the  only  method  which  oc- 
curred to  Mr.  Newton  of  conveying  any  reply  to 
him  was,  by  giving  notice  in  his  church,  that  if  the 
person  who  had  written  to  him  anonymously  on 
such  a  day  were  present,  and  would  call  upon  him, 
he  should  be  happy  to  converse  with  him  on  the 
subject  of  his  communication.  This  intimati(m  Mr. 
Newton  accordingly  gave,  and  an  early  interview 
in  consequence  took  [dace  between  them. 

"  I  called  on  him,"  says  Mr.  Buchanan,  in  a  let- 
ter to  his  mother,  "  on  the  Tuesday  following,  and 
experienced  such  a  happy  hour  as  I  ought  not  to 
forget.  If  he  had  been  my  father,  he  could  not 
have  expressed  more  solicitude  for  my  welfare. 

"  Mr.  Newton  encouraged  me  much.  He  put 
into  my  hands  the  naiiative  of  his  life,  and  s(^me 
of  his  letters;  begged  my  careful  perusal  of  them 
before  I  saw  him  again,  and  gave  me  a  general  in- 
vitation to  breakfast  with  him  when  and  as  often 
as  I  could." 

Of  the  meeting  immediately  subsequent  to  this 
first  interview  no  account  has  been  ]ueserved. 
That  it  was  mutually  pleasing  and  satisfactory,  is 
evident  from  the  intercourse  which  afterwards 
took  place  between  them,  and  which  was  ultimate- 
ly productive  of  such  important  consequences. 


EARLY   HISTORY.  35 

"  I  cultivated,"  says  Mr.  Buchanan,  "  a  close  ac- 
f]uaintance  with  Mi-.  Newton,  and  he  soon  pro- 
fessed a  o^reat  rea^aid  for  me." 

The  grand  subject,  wliich  would  of  course  imme- 
dialely  occupy  the  attention  of  both,  was  the  reali- 
ty and  the  completion  of  the  recent  change  in  the 
moral  and  religi^.us  character  of  Mr.  Buchanan. 
Though  the  public  and  piivate  instructions  of  Mr. 
Newton  would,  from  his  well  known  views  of  chris- 
tian doctrine,  incline  him  to  exhibit  to  the  awaken- 
ed and  trembling  penitent  the  free  and  full  forgive- 
ness of  the  Gospel,  he  would  doubtless  urge  with 
equal  solemnity  and  earnestness  the  necessity  of 
ascertaining  the  sincerity  of  his  repentance,  the 
genuineness  of  his  faith,  and  the  stability  of  liis  re- 
solutions of  obedience  to  the  divine  precepts.  That 
sucli  was  the  general  tenor  of  the  counsel  which 
was  impaited  ujjon  these  occasions,  plainly  appears 
from  several  succeeding  letters  of  Mr.  Buchanan  ; 
and  though  it  is  to  be  lamented  tiiat  those  of  his 
pious  C(»nespfmdent  to  which  he  refers  are  not  now 
to  be  found,  it  is  evident,  from  various  traces  of 
their  contents,  that  they  were  admirably  calculated 
to  lemove  the  difficulties,  and  to  direct  the  conduct 
of  his  new  disciple. 

Tlius,  in  the  venerable  person  to  whom  the  pro- 
vidence of  God  had  introduced  him.  Mi'.  Buchanan 
found   an  enlightened  and  experienced   guide,  a 


36  MEMOIR    OF    DR.    UUCIIANAN. 

wise  and  faithful  counsellor,  and  at  length  a  steady 
and  affectionate  friend  ;  while  the  latter  discovered 
in  the  stranger  who  had  been  so  remarkably  made 
known  to  him,  one  who  displayed  talents  and  dis- 
positions which  appeared  to  him  capable  of  being 
beneficially  employed  in  the  service  of  their  com- 
mon Lord  and  Master. 

The  change  in  Mr.  Buchanan  was  radical.  It 
not  only  redeemed  him  from  a  sinful  and  worldly 
course,  but  gradually  introduced  him  to  a  state  of 
"  righteousness,  and  peace,  and  joy  in  the  Holy 
Ghost."  It  rendered  him,  in  short,  "  a  new  crea- 
ture." He  felt  the  powerful  influence  of  the  love 
of  Christ ;  and  cordially  acquiescing  in  the  unan- 
swerable reasoning  of  the  great  Apostle,  ''  that  if 
one  died  for  all,  then  were  all  dead,"  he  resolved 
no  longer  to  live  unto  himself,  ''  but  unto  Him  that 
died  for  him,  and  rose  again." 


CHAPTER   11. 


Preparation  for  the  Jflinistrj/ — ^id  of  Rev*  Jflr, 
^"ewton  and  ^Ir.  Tliorntcn, 

About  a  fortnight  after  the  date  of  his  first  letter, 
Mr.  Buchanan  again  wrote  to  Mr.  Newton,  for  the 


PREPARES    FOR    MINISTRY.  37 

Durposc  of  communicating  to  him  a  strong  inclina- 
tion, which  he  had  lately  felt,  to  devote  himself  to 
the  ministry. 

"  Yesterday  morning,"  he  observes,  "  I  went  to 

hear  Dr.  S .    Near  the  conclusion  of  the  service 

I  was  insensibly  led  to  admire  this  passage  of  the 
prophet  Isaiah,  '  How  beautiful  are  the  feet  of 
them  that  preach  the  Gospel  of  peace  !'  It  occur- 
red to  me,  that  that  enviable  office  was  once  de- 
jsigned  for  mc  ;  that  I  was  called  to  the  ministry,  as 
it  were,  from  my  infancy.  For  ray  pious  giand- 
father  chose  me  from  among  my  mother's  children 
to  live  with  himself.  He  adopted  me  as  his  own 
child,  and  took  great  pleasure  in  forming  my  young 
mind  to  the  love  of  God.  He  warmly  encouraged 
my  parents'  design  of  bringing  me  up  for  the  minis- 
try. I  particularly  recollect  the  last  memorable  oc- 
casion of  my  seeing  this  good  grandfather.  The 
first  season  of  my  being  at  college  I  paid  him  a 
visit.  He  lived  but  five  miles  from  Glasgow.  After 
asking  me  some  particulars  relating  to  my  studies, 
he  put  the  following  question  to  me  ;  '  What  end 
I  had  in  view  in  becoming  a  minister  of  the  Gos- 
pel V  I  hesitated  a  moment,  thinking,  I  suppose, 
of  some  temporal  blessing.  But  he  put  an  answer 
into  my  mouth.  '  With  a  view,  no  doubt,'  said  he, 
'  to  the  glory  of  God.'  I  recollect  no  other  particu- 
lar of  the  conversation  but  this.    It  made  a  strong 

Buchanau.  4 


38  MEMOIR    OF    DR.    BUCllANAX. 

impression  on  my  mind,  and  even  oflcn  recuiTCtl 
to  my  thoughts  in  the  midst  of  ray  unhappy  years ; 
and  lastly,  I  thought  of  my  present  profession  and 
prospect  in  life.  It  suddenly  came  into  ray  mind 
that  I  might  yet  be  a  preacher  of  the  Gospel.  I 
began  to  consider  tlie  obstacles  that  had  hitherto 
deterred  me  from  attempting  it ;  but  they  appeared 
to  have  vanished. 

**  These  things  passed  rapidly  through  ray  mind.. 
I  wondered  that  1  had  not  thought  of  them  before. 
Your  suggestion  occurred  to  me,  and  I  seemed 
clearly  to  perceive  the  hand  of  providence  in  my 
not  having  been  articled  to  the  law.  I  now  beheld 
it  as  an  unkindly  and  unprofitable  study  ;  a  pro- 
fession I  never  cordially  liked,  and  was  thankful 
that  I  might  shake  it  oft"  when  I  pleased.  These 
reflections  filled  me  with  delight,  and,  as  I  walked 
home,  the  sensation  increased ;  so  that  by  the  time 
I  entered  my  chamber,  my  spirits  were  overpower- 
ed, and  I  fell  on  my  knees  before  God,  and  wept. 
What  shall  I  say  to  these  things  1  At  first  1  feared 
this  change  of  sentiment  might  be  some  idle  whim 
that  would  soon  vanish.  But  when  I  began  to  de- 
liberate calmly,  reason  pleaded  that  the  plan  wa» 
j)0ssible ;  and  the  wisdom  and  power  of  God,  and 
my  love  to  him,  pleaded  that  it  was  probable.  I 
thought  that  I,  who  had  experienced  so  much  of 
the  divine  mercy,  was  peculiarly  engaged  to  de- 
clare it  to  others.  After  fervent  prayer,  I  endeavor- 


PREPARES    FOR    MIMSTRY.  39 

ed  to  commit  myself  and  my  services  into  llie  bands 
of  Him  who  alone  is  able  to  direct  me. 

"  This  day  I  still  cberish  the  idea  with  delight. 
But  I  am  much  discouraged  when  I  rellect  on  my 
weak  abilities,  my  slender  knowledge,  my  defective 
expression,  and  my  advanced  age.  I  am  now  f(jui  - 
and-tvventy,  and  if  I  prosecute  this  new  desire,  I 
must  return  to  the  studies  of  fourteen." 

At  the  close  of  this  letter  Mr.  Buchanan  express- 
es the  lively  interest  with  which  he  had  read  Mr. 
Newton's  narrative  of  his  own  life.  "  I  am  the  per- 
son," he  says,  "  out  often  thousand,  who  can  read 
it  aright ;  for  I  can  read  it  with  self-application. 
What  a  balm  to  a  wounded  conscience  are  your 
healing  leaves  !  To-day  I  have  felt  a  tranquillity 
of  mind  to  which  I  have  been  lono;  a  stranger.  I 
trust  this  peace  has  a  right  foundation." 

It  appears,  that  upon  an  early  interview  with 
Mr.  Newton,  in  consequence  of  the  preceding  let- 
ter, he  warmly  approved  the  rising  disposition  of 
his  young  friend  to  change  his  profession,  and  to 
devote  himself  to  the  ministry  of  the  Gospel. 

*'  He  received  me,"  says  Mr.  Buchanan,  "  with 
open  arms;  and  in  his  family  worship  remember- 
ed me  in  a  very  aflecting  manner,  and  prayed  for 
the  divine  direction  in  his  counsels  to  mo.     We  thou 


40  MEMOIR    OF    DR.    BUCHANAIV. 

passed  a  considerable  time  together.  He  obsen'ed 
that  this  was  a  remarkable  season  with  me,  but 
that  I  must  leave  every  thing  with  God  ;  that  I 
must  use  the  means  which  he  had  appointed  for 
those  who  aspire  to  his  service  ;  that  1  must  devote 
the  principal  part  of  my  leisure  hours  to  medita- 
tion and  prayer,  and  the  remainder  to  the  study  of 
the  languages  ;  that  I  must  persevere  in  this  course 
for  a  considerable  time,  and  then,  if  it  pleased 
God,  he  would  open  a  door  to  me.  '  In  the  mean- 
time,' added  Mr.  Newton,  '  I  would  advise  you  to 
acquaint  your  mother  with  every  circumstance  of 
your  situation,  and  to  request,  in  the  first  instance, 
her  advice  and  approbation.'  " 

To  this  suggestion  Mr.  Buchanan  yielded  with- 
out hesitation,  and  employed  a  great  part  of  seve- 
ral nights  in  communicating  to  his  affectionate  pa- 
rent an  ingenuous  narrative  of  his  proceedings 
from  the  period  of  his  departure  from  Scotland  to 
the  present  time.  At  the  close  of  this  varied  his- 
tory, in  which  he  strongly  condemns  himself  for  his 
past  misconduct,  he  thus  expresses  himself: 

"  And  now,  my  dear  mother,  how  are  you  affect- 
ed by  this  account  ]  Is  your  heart  ready  to  wel- 
come the  return  of  your  long  lost  son,  or  does  it  le- 
ject,  with  just  indignation,  so  much  unworthiness  ? 
Whatever  may  be  your  emotions,  I  pray  God,  who 


rTlEPAIirS    FOR    MIMRTRT,  41 

lins  been  so  gracious  to  me,  to  bless  this  dispensa- 
lion  to  you.  The  veil  whicli  was  between  us  is  at 
length  rent,  and  I  am  now  in  peace  ;  for,  believe 
nie,  I  have  not  enjoyed  a  day  of  peace  since  I  left 
my  father's  house.  I  once  tiiought  I  would  rather 
sjiffer  torture  than  betray  my  secret ;  but  ray  '  si- 
news of  iron  '  are  now  become  like  those  of  a  child. 
Nothing  less  than  what  I  have  suffered  could  have 
softened  so  hard  a  heart  as  mine ;  and  not  even 
that,  unless  accompanied  by  the  power  of  God." 

Mr.  Buchanan  had  no  sooner  made  this  disclo- 
sure to  his  excellent  mother,  than  he  communicated 
the  result  to  Mr.  Newton  in  a  letter,  which  closes 
in  the  following  terms  : 

"  My  desires  of  entering  the  ministry  still  con- 
tinue, and  I  think  increase.  Blackstone  says  some- 
where, that  to  have  a  competent  knowledge  of  the 
lawre'quires  '  the  lucubrations  of  twenty  years.'  I 
once  had  the  low  ambition  of  being  such  a  lawyer, 
but  I  am  now  so  impressed  with  the  dignity  and 
importance  of  the  office  of  the  ministry,  that  I 
would  with  pleasure  sit  down  to-morrow  and  de- 
vote, not  the  lucubrations  of  twenty  years  alone, 
but  all  my  life  to  it.  But,  alas  !  my  present  situa- 
tion militates  much  against  my  wishes.  O  that  He, 
who  has  led  me  thus  far,  would  graciously  direct 
mv  steps  !'* 

4* 


42  MEMOIR    OF    DR.    BUCHANAN. 

During  the  three  following  months  Mr.  Bu- 
chanan continued  his  employment  in  the  law  ;  di- 
ligently and  devoutly  cultivating  the  spirit  of  real 
religion,  and  anxiously  revolving  in  his  mind  the 
practicability  of  accomplishing  his  wishes  respect- 
ing the  change  of  his  profession.  In  the  month  of 
July,  however,  he  addressed  another  letter  to  Mr. 
Newton,  who  was  then  absent  from  London,  in 
which  he  laments,  with  much  humility  and  feeling, 
the  painful  discoveries  which  he  had  been  making 
in  self-knowledge,  and  the  slowness  of  his  progres? 
in  his  christian  course.  "  I  have  but  sipped,"  he 
modestly  observes,  "  at  Salem's  spring — nee  f ante 
labra  prolviy  He  then  informs  his  kind  corres- 
pondent and  friend,  that  his  late  letters  from  Scot- 
land had  afforded  him  much  comfort.  "  My  mo 
ther,"  he  says,  "  writes  thus  : 

"  The  hint  you  gave  me  in  your  last,  of  your 
probably  joining  the  church  of  England,  causeJ 
me,  at  first,  some  uneasiness.  I  hope  you  will  for 
give  this.  I  find  now  that  the  difference  betweeu 
the  two  churches  consists  in  discipline  only,  not  in 
doctrine.  I  am,  the?-ef()i-e,  easy  in  mind,  which- 
ever way  the  providence  of  God  may  see  fit  to 
{Tuide  you.  I  am  happy  that  you  consulted  your 
Bible,  and  sought  the  Lord's  direction  upon  this 
occasion.  If  you  cast  your  buiden  upon  him,  he 
will  direct  you  aright.  Since  you  were  a  boy,  if 
was  impressed  upon  my  min^l  that  some  time  or 


PREPARES    FOR    MINISTRY.  43 

Other  you  would  be  a  good  man.  I  own,  of  late 
years,  I  was  beginning  to  lose  my  hope,  particu- 
larly on  the  supposition  of  your  going  abroad.  I 
thought,  this  is  not  God's  usual  way  of  bringing 
sinners  to  himself.  But  the  word  of  consolation 
often  came  in  remembrance,  that  God  is  a  God 
'  afar  oft?  O  how  merciful  has  he  been  to  you,  and 
how  merciful  to  us,  in  concealing  youi-  miserable 
situation  till  srrace  brouj^ht  it  to  lis^ht !  I  do  believe 
the  discovery  a  year  ago  would  ....  but  these 
recollections  are  painful  ;  therefore  I  forbear. 
What  comforting  letters  have  you  sent  us  !  Could 
a  thousand  pounds  a-year  have  afforded  an  equal 
consolation  1  Impossible.  It  might,  indeed,  have 
tied  us  down  faster  to  the  earth,  but  it  could  not 
have  set  our  hearts  upon  the  unsearchable  riches 
that  are  in  Christ  Jesus.  Your  friends  in  Glasgow 
are  rejoicing  with  us  :  some  of  them  saying,  '  Had 
the  good  old  people  (meaning  his  grandfather  and 
mother)  been  alive,  how  would  this  have  revived 
them  !'  Among  your  grandfather's  papers  I  find 
the  enchased  letter,  written  by  Mr.  Maculloch  to 
him  in  a  time  of  distress,  when  the  sins  of  his 
youth  oppressed  him.  Read  it  with  care,  and  may 
God  grai:t  a  blessing  in  the  perusal." 

It  was  surely  with  good  reason  that  Mr.  Bucha- 
nan adderl,  "  It  is  not  the  smallest  of  my  comfnts 
that  I  have  such  a  mother  as  this ;"  who,  though 


44  MHMOIR    OF    DR.    DUCIIAN'AN. 

evidently  grieved  at  his  past  misconduct,  was,  a.s 
lie  afterwards  expressed  it,  "  overwhelmed  with 
joy,  that  her  son,  who  was  lost,  had  been  found." 
It  appears,  by  the  subsequent  part  of  this  letter^ 
that  Mr.  Buchanan  had  a  short  time  before  been 
introduced,  by  the  kindness  of  liis  friend,  to  the 
notice  of  a  gentleman  to  whose  munificent  patron- 
age he  was  afterwards  indebted  for  the  means  of 
accomplishing  the  prevailing  desire  of  his  heart,  in 
entering  upon  the  ministry  of  the  Gospel  in  the 
cimrch  of  England.  This  was  the  late  Mr.  Henry 
Thornton  ;  who,  to  talents  of  a  superior  order, 
and  to  various  and  extensive  acquirements,  devo- 
ted durinof  a  laborious  and  honorable  course  to  the 
most  important  duties  of  public  life,  united  a  warm 
and  enlightened  attachment  to  genuine  Christian- 
ity ;  which,  while  it  formed  the  basis  of  his  reli- 
gious character,  not  only  supplied  the  rule  and  the 
motives  of  his  general  conduct,  but  prompted  him, 
in  an  especial  manner,  to  support  with  calm  and 
steady  zeal  whatever  a  remarkably  sound  and  vi- 
gorous understanding  deemed  calculated  to  pro- 
mote the  glory  of  God  and  the  present  and  future 
happiness  of  his  fellow-creatures.  It  was  to  this 
distinguished  person  that  Mr.  Buchanan,  happily 
for  himself  and  for  others,  was  now  made  known 
and  recommended.  Mr.  Newton  had  been  laree- 
ly  indebted  to  the  friendship  and  patronage  of 
the  excellent  father  of  this  gentleman  ;  and  justly 


PREPARES    FOR    MIMSTRY.  45 

thouglit  tliat  he  couUl  not  render  a  more  import- 
ant service  to  his  young  friend,  or  one  which  might 
eventually  be  more  useful  to  the  world,  than  by 
introducing  him  to  the  son  ;  who,  with  higher 
mental  powers,  inherited  that  enlarged  and  gene- 
rous spirit  of  benevolence  which  had  associated, 
in  almost  every  mind,  the  name  of  Thornton* 
with  that  of  philanthropy  and  christian  charity. 

The  liberal  education  which  Mr.  Buchanan  had 
already  received,  and  his  advanced  age  a.s  a  stu- 
dent, naturally  led  his  friends  to  wish  that  it  might 
be  practicable  for  him  to  obtain  ordination  without 
so  long  a  preparation  as  a  residence  at  an  English 
university  for  a  degree  would  require.  The  bishop, 
however,  to  whom  an  application  was  made  for 
this  purpose,  discouraged  any  such  plan,  and  it 
was  accordingly  abandoned.  It  was  afterwards 
thought  that  holy  orders  might  be  procured  for 
Mr.  Buchanan  at  an  early  period,  on  the  condition 
of  his  going  abroad  ;  and  Mr.  Thornton  desired 
him  to  consider  whether  his  health  would  allow 
him  to  accept  the  chaplaincy  of  the  colony  at 
Sierra  Leone.  To  this  proposal  Mr.  Buchanan, 
after  requesting  Mr.  Newton's  advice,  signified  his 
cordial  assent ;  but,  for  reasons  which  do  not  ap- 
pear, this  design  was  also  relinquished.  For  a 
short  time  the  mind  of  Mr.  Buchanan  seems  to 
have  been  somewhat  depressed  by  the  failure  of 
these  attempts. 

*  See  Cowper'a  "  Charity." 


46  MEMOIR    or    DR.    BUCHANAN. 

"  Notwithstanding,"  he  says,  at  the  close  of  tha 
letter  last  quoted,  "  your  endeavors  in  my  behalf, 
I  have  little  expectation  that  you  will  succeed. 
Providence,  I  think,  has  a  few  more  trials  and  dif- 
ficulties for  me  to  encounter  before  I  am  led  into 
so  pleasant  a  path  ;  and  1  know  that  they  are  need- 
ful to  make  me  more  humble." 

He  felt,  too,  the  absence  of  his  paternal  friend 
and  guide,  and  looked  around  among  his  acquain- 
tance for  a  companion  in  vain.  "  I  have  but  one 
.serious  friend,"  he  observes,  "  and  him  I  only  see 
once  in  a  week  or  fortnight.  Next  to  the  blessing 
of  communion  with  God  on  eailh,  must  surely  be 
the  society  of  his  children.  Yet  I  shall  not  com- 
plain if  I  can  enjoy  the  former  privilege  ;  for  then, 
llle  solus  turba  erity^ 

Amidst  these  discouraging  circumstances,  how- 
ever, Mr.  Buchanan  assures  his  venerable  corres- 
pondent that  he  was  never  so  truly  happy  in  his 
life,  having  been  guided  into  "  the  way  of  peace," 
relying  on  the  direction  of  divine  providence,  and 
being  animated  "  by  '  the  hope  set  before  him.'  " 

But  it  was  not  long  before  the  kindness  of  the 
generous  patron  to  whom  he  had  been  introduced 
opened  to  him  a  prospect  which  his  most  sanguine 
expectations  had  never  ventured  to  anticipate  :  in- 
stead of  any  further  attempt  to  obtain  ordination 

♦  God  shall  be  my  all  in  all. 


rKKTARLS    rt)R    MI.MSTKY.  47 

for  him  under  his  present  circumstances,  Mr.  Thorn- 
ton determined  to  send  him  to  the  University  of 
Cambridge  at  his  o\tri  expense  ;  that  he  might  thus 
enter  the  churcli  witli  every  possible  advantage, 
ind  be  prepared  for  a  liigher  and  more  extensive 
sphere  of  usefulness  than  any  for  which  he  could 
otherwise  be  qualified.  This  resolution  was  scarce- 
ly less  honorable  to  the  character  of  Mr.  Buchanan 
than  to  the  liberality  of  his  patron,  whose  discrimi- 
nating judgment  aftbrded  no  slight  presumption  in 
favor  of  any  one  to  whom  his  protection  was  ex- 
tended, and  whose  penetration  was,  in  the  present 
instance,  amply  justified  by  the  event. 

Early  in  the  month  of  September  Mr.  Buchanan 
communicated  to  his  mother,  and  his  friend  Mr. 
Newton,  who  was  still  in  the  country,  the  joyful 
news  of  Mr.  Thornton's  munificent  intention.  He 
had  been  so  much  depressed  by  the  failure  of  for- 
mer plans,  and  the  present  offer  so  far  exceeded 
any  hopes  which  he  had  indulged,  that  he  was  at 
first  almost  tempted  to  think  it  a  delusion  ;  but  on 
Mr.  Thornton's  assuring  him  personally  of  the  reali- 
ty of  the  proposal,  which  he  appears  to  have  orisri- 
nally  made  to  him  by  letter,  he  received  it  with 
those  mingled  feelings  of  gratitude  and  humility 
which  were  the  surest  pledges  that  the  benevolent 
exertions  of  his  patron  would  not  be  made  in  vain. 

"  I  was  emancipated,"  he  writes  to  Mr.  Newton, 


48  MEMOIR   OF    DK.    BUCHANAN. 

"  from  the  law  a  few  days  ago,  and  am  now  will- 
ing to  enter  into  the  eternal  bonds  of  the  Gospel. 
I  have  been  endeavoring  to  arrange  my  studies,  in 
some  measure,  preparatory  to  my  going  to  Cam- 
bridge ;  but  I  find  so  much  to  do,  that  I  know  not 
where  to  begin.  I  wish  to  devote  my  greatest  at- 
tention to  the  Bible,  and  am  desirous  of  adopting 
some  regular  plan  in  studying  it;  but  I  cannot 
please  myself,  and  I  am  a  perfect  stranger  to  the 
system  which  is  usually  followed.  The  Bible  ap- 
pears to  me  like  a  confused  heap  of  polished  stones 
prepared  for  a  building,  which  must  be  brought 
together,  and  each  of  them  fitted  to  its  place  be- 
fore the  proportion  and  symmetry  of  the  temple 
appear.  I  would  fain  hope  that  the  foundation- 
stone  is  laid  with  me  ;  but  the  raising  of  the  super- 
structure appears  an  arduous  undertaking,  and  the 
pinnacle  of  the  temple  is  quite  out  of  sight,  even 
in  idea.  I  conjectured  that  probably  the  articles 
and  creeds  of  the  church  contain  the  first  principles 
of  the  oracles  of  God ;  and  on  this  presumption  I 
have  begun  to  prove  all  the  articles  of  my  faith  by 
Scripture.  Whether  I  am  right  in  this  mode  of 
study  I  know  not. 

"  I  never  felt  myself  in  more  need  of  divine  di- 
rection than  now.  When  I  consider  myself  so  evi- 
dently called  forth  on  the  Lord's  side,  my  heart  is 
lUint ;  and  I  am  apt  to  say,  '  Who  is  sufficient  for 
these  things  V    I  find  I  am  unable  to  go  through 


rRCPAUES    rOR    MIMSTRY.  49 

the  important  studies  before  me,  unless  I  am  led 
<5very  step.  At  present  it  appears  to  me  that  my 
sole  business  at  the  university  is  contained  in  one 
line  of  St.  Paul,  '  to  be  enriched  with  all  utterance, 
»nd  all  knowledge ;'  or  in  other  words,  '  to  be  elo- 
quent, and  mighty  in  the  Scriptures;'  which  are 
isaid  to  have  been  the  accomplishments  of  the 
preacher  ApoUos.  But  I  find  that  1  must  attend  to 
various  branches  of  human  learning,  for  which  at 
present  I  have  no  relish.  Alas  !  sir,  if  St.  Paul  had 
«ent  Timothy  and  Titus  to  such  a  college  as  this, 
ihey  would  have  complained  to  him  of  such  a  plan. 
But  he  would  perhaps  have  answered,  as  he  does 
Bomevvhere,  '  Till  I  come,  give  attendance  to  read- 
ing'— '  that  ye  may  know  how  ye  ought  to  answer 
every  man.'  " 

The  sentiment  expressed  in  the  latter  part  of  the 
preceding  extract  will  not  appear  extraordinary  to 
ihose  who  consider  the  state  of  Mr.  Buchanan's 
mind  at  this  period,  and  the  one  great  object  which 
&e  had  in  view  in  accepting  Mr.  Thornton's  offer  of 
i,  university  education.  The  same  train  of  thought 
occurs  in  his  next  letter  to  Mr.  Newt(m ;  and  al- 
though he  afterwards  acquiesced,  upon  principle,  in 
the  usual  course  of  university  studies,  it  may  not 
De  without  its  use  to  develope  somewhat  more  fully 
nis  present  dispositions  and  feelings. 

Bucbauan.  ^ 


50  MEMOIR    OF    DK.    BUCIIAAAN, 

•'  Permit  me,"  he  observes  to  bis  first  excellent 
friend,  "  to  thank  yoii  for  your  letter.  It  is  a  mark 
of  your  regard,  of  which  I  am  unworthy,  and  has 
affixed  a  seal  to  the  truth  of  your  interest  in  my 
welfare,  which  I  hope  will  never  be  broken.  Liko 
Hezekiah,  I  spread  it  before  the  Lord,  but  with  a 
different  purpose  ;  not  to  avert  a  curse,  but  to  im- 
prove a  blessing.  The  words  in  Hezckiali's  letter 
were  *  to  reproach  the  living  God ;'  but  the  words 
in  ray  letter  were  to  assure  me  that  his  name  is 
hve ;  that  he  is  very  gracious,  and  that  I  should 
serve  him  with  a  cheerful  heart.  I  have  prayed  that 
I  may  be  enabled  to  do  so.  Your  letter  is  a  silent 
monitor,  wdiich  I  hope  at  the  university  often  to 
consult.  It  will,  I  trust,  serve  as  a  counterpoise  to 
the  parade  of  worldly  wisdom,  and  teach  me  to  re- 
verse the  motto  of  the  schools,  Ubi  fldlosophus 
cessat,  illic  incipit  theologus*  Chrysostom  was  of 
your  opinion  ;  he  says,  Owcv  a-apia,  Geow,  cvkcti  xi^'^ 
aod-i^coTTivusA  1  think' SO  too  ;  but  I  also  think  that  the 
fault  is  not  in  the  studies,  but  in  the  manner  of 
pursuing  them.  If  a  student  could  wed  himself  to 
the  Bible,  and  court  the  sciences  merely  as  hand- 
maids to  her,  I  think  this  would  do  very  well ;  but 
when  we  are  seized  by  the  cacocthes  philosojyhandiX 

*  Where  the  philo;?opher  ends,  the  theologian  begins. 
t  Where  the  wisdom  of  God  L>«,  human  wisdom  will  nor 
be  wantingf, 
X  Thirst  of  philosophy. 


PREPARE!    FOR    IIINISTRT.  61 

and  devote  ourselves  to  what  Luther  calls  the  idohi 
carnalium  studiorum*  our  taste  becomes  vitiated. 
Since  I  received  your  letter  1  have  seeu  something 
of  this. 

"  I  was  introduced  yesterday  to  the  acquaintance 
of  a  clergyman's  son,  who  has  been  two  years  at 

•  college,  Cambridge.    His  father,  I  understand, 

sent  him  to  that  college  that  he  might  be  under  the 
care  of  religious  tutors.  From  this  account  I  hoped 
to  find  him  a  suitable  companion  ;  but  I  soon  dis- 
covered that  he  had  no  inclination  to  talic  of  divi- 
nity, or  of  any  thing  that  bore  relation  to  it.  His 
whole  conversation  turned  on  experimental  philo- 
sophy and  mathematics.  I  have  not  seen  a  young 
man  so  mathematic-mad  in  my  life.  During  the 
whole  evening  I  spent  with  him,  his  head  was  (as 
Omicron  expresses  it)  continually  wool-gathering 
after  rhomboids  and  parallelograms.  He  assures 
me  that  if  I  do  not  study  mathematics  very  dili- 
gently, I  shall  have  no  chance,  at  the  end  of  my 
course,  of  obtaining  *  the  honors.'  I  told  him  than 
I  had  heard  college  fame  was  very  intoxicating ; 
that  perhaps  it  might  be  prudent  to  sip  gently  of 
it ;  and  that,  as  for  myself,  if  I  could  pass  my  ex- 
amination with  a  mediocrity  of  applause,  I  should 
be  content.  He  observed  that  seven  hours  a  day 
studying  mathematics  would  be  sufficient  for  t/iat. 

*  Idolatry  of  science. 


52  MEMOIR   OF    DR.    BUCHANAN. 

"  How  much  reason  is  there  for  that  '  double 
guard  of  prayer  and  close  walking  with  God ' 
which  you  mention,  in  order  that  I  may  be  ena- 
bled to  pass  through  this  fire  unhurt !  It  is  happy 
for  me  that  I  am  not  under  my  own  guidance.  It 
seems  it  is  necessary  for  me  to  be  somewhat, 
'  learned  in  the  wisdom  of  the  Egyptians  ;'  but  I 
trust  it  is  that  I  may  be  able  to  see  and  set  forth 
'  the  wisdom  that  is  from  above  '  in  a  more  trans- 
cendent light. 

"  The  method  you  propose  for  my  studying  the 
Bible  approves  itself  much  to  my  judgment,  and 
I  desire  to  follow  it.  I  have  begun  it  this  day  in  a 
solemn  manner.  O  that  my  ardor  for  contemplating 
the  truths  of  Scripture  may  never  abate  ! 

"  What  you  say  of  a  daily  retrospect  of  my  past 
life  is  an  instructive  lesson.  Is  it  possible  that  for 
forty  years  it  should  have  been  so  with  you  ]  1 
fear  I  shall  come  far  short  of  this ;  and  yet  how 
much  reason  have  I  to  sing  of  the  mercies  of  the 
Lord  all  the  day  long  1  Is  there  any  one  of  hi? 
children  who  is  more  indebted  to  him  as  the  God 
of  providence  and  of  grace  than  I  am  1  Who  can 
'  sing  of  mercy  and  of  judgment '  as  I  can,  when 
I  remember  him  from  the  land  of  my  nativity,  al^ 
the  way  by  which  I  have  been  led  1  How  few  ar<» 
there  who  would  believe  that  a  man  could  be  found 
capable  of  displaying  so  extraordinary  an  act  of 
munificence  as  that  with  which  Mr.  Thornton  is 


FREPARES    FOR    MiriSTRT.  ;5.1 

now  honoring  rne  ?  "Were  I  possessed  of  both  th« 
Indies  I  could  scarcely  do  more  for  myself  than  ho 
is  now  doing.  And  how  unworthy  I  am  of  all  this  ] 
When  I  think  of  these  things,  it  is  the  grief  of  my 
heart  that  I  cannot  more  admire  and  love  that  gra- 
cious Saviour,  who  has  so  highly  favored  me.  As 
yet  I  have  a  very  imperfect  view  of  what  I  have 
passed  through  ;  but  I  trust  these  things  will  be 
shown  me  as  I  shall  be  able  to  bear  them. 

"  Mr.  Thornton  intends  that  I  shall  go  to  Queen's 
college  ;  chiefly,  I  believe,  because  he  is  acquaint- 
ed with  the  President,  Rev.  Isaac  Milner,  D.  D. 
and  thinks  that  circumstance  may  be  advantageous 
to  me.  I  am  happy  to  hear  so  favorable  an  account 
of  Cambridge.  It  will  be  an  encouragement  for 
me  to  maintain  my  ground  when  I  see  some  around 
me  who  dare  to  be  singular.  It  shall  be  my  endea- 
vor to  attend  to  your  advice  with  respect  to  my 
conduct  to  my  superiors.  I  shall  often  pray  to  be 
endued  with  a  meek  and  quiet  spirit ;  and  endea- 
vor implicitly  to  comply  with  every  rule  and  every 
injunction  in  the  university,  for  the  Lord's  sake.'* 


6« 


54;  MEMOIR    OF    DR.    BUCHANAN. 


CHAPTER  III. 


Residence  at  Cambridge  Iniversity, 

Such  were  the  views  with  which,  in  the  autumn 
of  1791,  Mr.  Buchanan  was  admitted  a  member  of 
Queen's  college,  Cambridge.  "  The  day  of  my 
leaving  London,"  he  observes  in  a  letter  to  his 
brother,  "  was  very  solemn.  It  was  on  Monday, 
the  24th  of  October,  exactly  four  years  and  two 
months  since  my  entering  that  city.  But  with 
what  a  different  spirit  did  I  leave  it,  compared 
with  that  with  which  I  entered  it !  Had  1  seen  at 
that  time,  in  the  book  of  providence,  all  that  I  was 
about  to  do  and  to  suffer  in  that  city,  I  suppose  I 
should  hardly  have  dared  to  approach  it  :  but  God 
wisely  conceals  from  us  a  knowledge  of  the  future. 

"  On  the  morning  and  evening  preceding  my 
leaving  London,  I  was  earnest  in  prayer  for  a 
blessing  on  my  intended  journey  and  its  conse- 
quences. One  request  in  particular  was,  that  I 
might  be  favored  with  the  acquaintance  of  some 
pious  companions  in  my  studies.  To  this  prayer  I 
had  an  early  answer.  A  gentleman  set  out  with 
me  from  London  in  the  same  coach  for  Cambridge. 
He  studied  two  seasons  at  Glasgow,  as  I  did; 
then,  like  me,  passed  some  years  in  vanity ;  and 


AT    CAMBRIDGE.  55 

now  comes  to  the  university  to  qualify  himself  for 
preacliing  Clirist,  as  I  hope  I  do.  This  singular 
similarity  in  our  circumstances  occasioned  a  liap- 
piness  of  which  none  but  ourselves  could  partake." 
With  a  modesty  and  regard  to  frugality  which 
reflect  upon  him  much  credit.  Mr.  Buchanan  was 
at  first  disposed  to  enter  as  a  sizer  ;  but  upon  the 
representations  of  the  tutors,  and  of  the  friends  to 
whom  he  had  been  recommended,  he  determined 
on  being  admitted  as  a  pensioner.  In  a  letter  to 
Mr.  Newton,  written  soon  after  his  arrival  at  Cam- 
bridge, he  very  feelingly  describes  the  perplexity 
which  he  had  anticipated  from  the  contrariety  of 
the  studies  to  which  he  was  called,  to  the  prevail- 
ing dispositions  of  his  mind.  Until  he  was  actually 
at  college  he  cherished  the  hope  of  being  permit- 
ted to  devote  his  chief  attention  to  divinity,  and  to 
the  mathematics  only  secondarily.  But  he  found 
that  the  reverse  was  expected  from  him  ;  and  that 
the  excellent  friends,  to  whom  his  patron  had  in- 
troduced him,  were  quite  as  strenuous  as  his  tutors 
in  representing  to  him  the  necessity  of  complying 
with  the  established  course  of  study  in  the  uni- 
versity. Independently  of  the  repugnance  which 
Mr.  Buchanan  felt  to  this  plan  from  the  ])eculiarly 
serious  frame  of  his  mind  at  this  period,  he  feared 
that  by  yielding  to  it  he  should  disappoint  the  ex- 
pectations of  the  friends  who  had  sent  him  tf) 
Cambridge,  and  eventually  frustrate  the  great  ob- 


56  MEMOIR    OF    DR.    nUCnAXAN. 

ject  which  he  and  they  mutually  had  in  view.  The 
comparatively  advanced  age,  too,  at  w^hich  he  en- 
tered, the  university,  would  naturally  tend  to 
strengthen  this  apprehension,  and  to  dispose  him 
to  dedicate  his  time  exclusively  to  theological  pur- 
suits. The  state  of  doubt  and  uneasiness  produced 
by  these  circumstances  affected  both  his  spirits 
and  his  health  ;  but  after  stating  the  reasonings  of 
his  Cambridge  friends,  and  his  own  feelings  and. 
inclinations,  he  expressed  to  his  respected  corres- 
pondent his  resolution  to  follow  that  course  of  con- 
duct, which,  after  mature  deliberation,  should  ap- 
pear to  him  to  be  the  path  of  duty. 

In  the  case  of  students  in  general,  entering  at 
the  usual  period  at  either  university  with  a  view  to 
the  clerical  office,  however  religiously  they  may 
be  disposed,  there  can  be  no  doubt  either  as  to 
the  duty  or  the  wisdom  of  devoting  their  chief 
attention  to  the  prescribed  studies  of  the  place.  A 
competent  acquaintance  with  the  learned  langua- 
ges, and  with  the  stores  of  historical  and  ethical 
knowledge  which  they  contain ;  the  principles  of 
sound  reasoning,  and  the  elements,  at  least,  of 
seneral  science,  are  essential  to  the  formation  of 
an  enlightened  and  able  theologian.  The  basis  of 
such  a  character  must,  indeed,  be  deeply  laid  in  ar». 
experimental  acquaintance  with  real  religion  ;  and 
it  were  devoutly  to  be  wished  that  this  wera 
always  considered  an  indispensable  qualificatior 


XT   CAMDRIDUE.  57 

in  the  candidate  for  the  ministry,  and  that  more 
effectual  encouragements  and  facilities  were  af- 
forded in  our  universities  for  its  attainment.  But 
if  to  the  spirit  of  piety  be  not  added  tlie  advanta- 
ges which  are  to  be  derived  from  the  wise  and 
temperate  pursuit  of  human  learning,  there  is 
great  danger  that  religion  itself  will  suffer  in  the 
hands  of  those  who  are  thus  unprepared  to  teach, 
to  defend,  and  to  adorn  it.  In  the  present  instance, 
Mr.  Buchanan  was  already  possessed  of  such  a 
share  of  learning  as  might  have  been  sufficient  to 
qualify  him  for  the  discharge  of  the  ordinary  du- 
ties of  a  christian  minister ;  but  it  was  obviously 
desirable  that  this  should  be  strengthened  and  en- 
larged by  fresh  accessions  at  the  seat  of  science,  to 
which  the  providence  of  God  had  so  remarkably 
conducted  him.  Nor  was  it  long  before  his  judg- 
ment was  convinced  by  the  arguments  of  his 
friends,  that  the  very  honor  of  religion  required 
his  acquiescence  in  such  a  measure ;  and  that, 
however  the  a]>pointed  studies  of  the  university 
might  appear  to  be  foreign  to  the  important  pur- 
pose for  which  he  had  entered  it,  they  would  ulti- 
mately tend  in  the  most  effectual  manner  to  pro- 
mote it.  Among  those  who  concurred  in  this  sa- 
lutary advice  was  Mr.  Newton  himself;  and  to 
him  Mr.  Buchanan  early  in  the  following  year  an- 
nounced his  disposition  to  yield  to  their  sugges- 
tions. 


6S  MEMOIR    or    DR.    BUCHANAN. 

"  I  think,"  he  observes,  "  that  ray  way  is  clearer 
than  it  was,  and  I  hope  soon  to  have  little  doubt  of 
my  path  of  duty  at  college.  Your  letter  helped  to 
pave  the  way  for  me.  I  have  now  taken  up  the 
study  of  the  mathematics  ex  animo,  that  is,  from  a 
persuasion  that  God  wills  it.  And  for  them  I  have 
made  a  sacrifice  of  some  other  studies  truly  dear 
to  me.  I  tried,  for  a  time,  to  continue  them  both, 
but  I  found  it  impossible  ;  so  that  now,  that  por- 
tion of  the  day  which  I  have  set  apart  for  divine 
things  is  extremely  short,  compared  with  what  I 
once  thought  it  would  be  ;  and  yet  I  dare  not  tell 
some  of  my  friends  here  that  it  is  so  long." 

It  will  be  readily  imagined  that  Mr.  Buchanan 
had  various  difficulties  to  encounter  on  commencing 
his  academical  course.  He  had  indeed  been  re- 
ceived by  the  Vice-President,  in  the  absence  of 
Dr.  Milner,  and  by  the  tutors,  with  much  attention 
and  kindness  ;  but  having  been  entirely  unacquaint- 
ed with  the  mathematics  before  his  entrance  at  col- 
lege, it  was  only  by  hard  study  that  he  could  con- 
trive to  keep  pace  with  the  lectures.  "  I  once 
thought,"  he  says,  "  that  I  should  have  been  oblig- 
ed to  acknowledge  my  inability,  and  to  have  fallen 
behind,  and  was  wishing  for  the  last  day  of  term 
as  eagerly  as  ever  truant  did  for  a  holiday.  How 
ever,  I  was  enabled  to  keep  my  ground,  and  my 
difficulties  were  never  known,  even  to  my  tutor 


AT    CAMBRIDGE.  5Q 

This  vacation  will  give  me  room  to  have  some  lit- 
tle beforehand ;  so  that  I  hope  to  pass  with  more 
ease  and  credit  through  the  succeeding  terms." 

From  the  time  of  his  coming  to  college,  accord- 
•ng  to  the  information  of  a  contemporary  friend, 
Mr.  Buchanan  was  exceedingly  regular  and  studi- 
ous, keeping  but  little  company,  for  the  sake,  he 
supposes,  of  economy,  both  as  to  expense  and  time. 

His  situation,  too,  was  at  first  peculiarly  unplea- 
eant,  from  finding  scarcely  a  single  companion 
whose  sentiments  and  habits  were  cong^enial  with 
his  own.  His  indisposition  to  general  visits  even 
rendered  him  the  subject  of  much  animadversion. 
But  from  this  trial  he  was  shortly  relieved  by  the 
praise  which  he  received  from  his  tutor  for  a  Latin 
theme,  the  composition  of  which,  though  he  had 
written  nothing  in  that  language  for  some  years, 
was  pronounced  to  be  superior  to  that  of  any  other 
student.  He  was  in  consequence  treated  with  much 
additional  respect  by  his  fellow-collegians,  was  al- 
lowed to  visit  them  upon  his  own  terms,  and  even 
received  several  applications  to  assist  them  in  their 
studies,  which  served  as  a  stimulus  to  his  own  ex- 
ertions. 

No  sooner,  however,  had  Mr.  Buchanan  deter- 
mined on  the  diligent  pursuit  of  his  academical 
studies,  than  the  wakeful  spirit  of  piety  by  which 
he    was    animated    made    him    anxious    to   o:i5ard 


60  MEMOIR    OF    DR.    BUCHAxNAN. 

against  the  possible  dangers  to  vvbich  such  a  plan 
might  expose  hira.  For  this  purpose  he  cultivated 
the  acquaintance  of  the  more  serious  students  at 
different  colleges ;  and  at  his  solicitation  they 
agreed  to  meet  regularly  for  the  purpose  of  read- 
ing the  New  Testament,  and  conversing  practical- 
ly upon  some  chapter  which  had  been  selected. 
Their  meetings  were  begun  and  ended  with  prayer. 
Mr.  Buchanan  was  also  invited  to  spend  an  hour 
on  Sunday  evenings  at  the  rooms  of  one  excellent 
person,*  who  has  been  distinguished  during  many 
years  for  his  active  and  zealous  support  of  religion 
in  Cambridge,  and  to  whom  a  numerous  body  of 
clerical  and  other  students  have  been  successively 
indebted  for  the  most  important  instruction  and 
encouragement  during  their  academical  progress. 
Of  the  kindness  of  this  gentleman,  and  of  the  be- 
nefit which  he  derived  from  his  conversation  and 
example,  Mr.  Buchanan  wrote  to  more  than  one 
of  his  friends  in  terms  of  the  highest  respect  and 
gratitude. 

"  These  engagements,"  he  says  to  one  of  them, 
*' prove  something  of  a  counterbalance  to  the  ef- 
fects of  human  learning,  and  preserve  my  mind 
from  being  wholly  absorbed  in  philosophy  and  me- 
taphysics. Besides,"  and  the  remark  affords  a  strik- 
ing proof  of  the  sobriety  as  well  as  fervor  of  his 

*  The  late  Rev.  Charles  Simeon. 


AT  cAMnRincr.  61 

piety,  "  I  have  the  opport unity,  every  morning  and 
t^vening,  of  attending  chapel  prayers,  which,  of  it- 
fcelf,  I  consider  a  great  blessing." 

"  I  often  meditate,"  he  adds,  "  on  the  vanity  of 
life,  and  the  insufficiency  of  the  world  to  confer 
iiappiness.  Were  I  assured  of  my  interest  in  the 
Kedeemer,  I  should  long  for  my  departure.  What 
is  there  to  detain  me  here  ?  I  have  no  tie  to  this 
world,  no  earthly  possession,  no  person,  if  I  except 
my  mother,  for  whose  sake  I  desiie  to  live,  no  idol 
of  any  hind.  What  then  should  induce  me  to  lin- 
ger here,  groaning,  as  I  do  daily,  with  sin,  and 
combating  a  powerful  spiritual  enemy  ]  Nothing 
ought  to  urge  me  to  stay,  but  a  desire  to  promote 
the  glory  of  God  among  men.  But  this  desire  is 
with  me  so  weak  at  present,  as  scarcely  to  deserve 
the  name.  It  is  but  a  spark.  This  is  my  unhappi- 
ness.  Yet  the  goodness  of  God  may,  in  his  own 
ume,  fan  it  into  a  flame." 

Such  was  the  resolution  with  which  Mr.  Bu- 
chanan engaged  in  the  study  of  the  mathematics, 
that  at  the  close  of  his  second  term  he  found  him- 
self inferior  to  none  in  the  lecture-room.  He  had, 
at  the  same  time,  though  contrary  to  the  usual  cus- 
tom, paid  equal  attention  to  the  classical  and  logical 
lectures  ;  but  very  reasonably  doubted  whether  he 
should  be  able  to  continue  the  same  application  to 
so  many  different  objects. 

Buchanan.  ^ 


62  MEMOIR   OF    DR.    BUCHANAN. 

"  Your  good  sense,"  he  says  to  one  of  his  cor- 
respondents, "  will  show  you,  when  reflecting  on 
my  present  situation,  that  I  have  much  need  of  that 
wisdom  which  is  profitable  to  direct.  Weak  in  spi- 
rit, weak  in  body,  and  beset  by  hard  study,  which 
I  know  by  experience  to  be  a  weariness  to  the 
flesh,  what  can  I  do  but  commit  myself  and  all  my 
cares  to  Him  who  hath  hitherto  cared  for  me,  and 
will  lead  me,  though  blind,  by  a  way  I  know  not  % 
By  such  a  way  is  he  now  leading  me.  I  know  not 
whither  his  goodness  is  conducting  me  :  I  trust  it 
is  to  his  service  :  and  yet  there  is  such  an  ocean  of 
mathematics  and  abstruse  study  which  intervenes 
between  me  and  usefulness  in  the  ministry,  that, 
like  the  Israelites,  I  stand  on  the  sea-shore  think- 
ing it  impossible  to  get  over ;  but  I  think  also  that 
I  hear  the  Lord  by  his  providence,  which  introdu- 
ced me  to  the  studies  of  this  place,  say,  '  Go  for- 
ward.' This  I  am  resolved  to  do  till  his  goodness 
illuminate  my  mind,  so  that  I  shall  be  enabled  to 
discover  the  errors  (if  any)  of  my  path.  If  any, 
did  I  say  1  I  know  that  there  are  many ;  but  I 
need  grace  to  abandon  them  when  I  see  them ;  I 
hope  Cambridge  University  will  prove  a  good 
school  of  Christ  to  me.  I  knew  little  of  myself  till 
1  came  here." 

Notwithstanding  his  complaint  as  to  the  unfa- 
vorable eflect  of  his  studies  upon   his  devotional 


AT    CAMBRIDGE.  6j 

feelings,  he  occasionally  experienced  very  different 
and  more  pleasing  impressions. 

"  I  ought,"  he  observes,  writing  to  Mr.  Newton 
not  long  afterwards,  "  to  thank  you  for  your  letter. 
There  is  an  indescribable  something  which  per- 
vades the  whole  of  it,  and  seems  to  intimate  that 
all  is  peace  and  tranquillity  within  the  mind  of  the 
writer.  What  an  enviable  frame  of  spirit  does  lie 
possess  who  walks  with  God  !  About  a  fortnight 
ago  a  dawn  of  that  light,  with  which  I  suppose  the 
Lord  irradiates  the  souls  of  those  that  walk  with 
him,  shone  upon  my  mind,  and  by  its  lustre  showed 
me  some  things  I  had  not  seen  before.  I  prayed 
often  that  this  impression  of  love  might  not  leave 
me.  But,  alas  !  it  did  leave  me  ;  no  doubt  it  was 
my  own  fault.  I  would  walk  three  times  round  the 
globe  to  attain  it  again  :  but  no  such  great  thing  is 
required  of  me ;  I  have  only  to  believe :  n/s-Tjya, 

"  After  what  you  have  said  on  the  subject  of  dis 
appointment,  I  am  resolved  never  to  be  disappoint- 
ed. But  it  is  a  resolution  which  I  fear  I  cannot  keep. 
Let  me  pray  for  grace.  If  I  possessed  this  foun- 
tain, all  the  streams  would  be  mine  ;  and  among 
the  rest,  the  christian  grace  of  considering  nothing 
in  the  providence  of  God  a  disappointment." 

•  Lord,  I  believe,  help  thou  my  uabelief." 


64  MEMOIR   OF    DR.    BUCUAXAX. 

On  the  approacli  of  the  long  vacation,  Mr.  Bu- 
chanan had  some  thoughts  of  spending  a  few  weeks 
at  Lynn,  in  Norfolk,  for  the  benefit  of  his  health, 
which  had  been  impaired  by  his  close  application 
to  study. 

Mr.  Newton  had  also  invited  hiin  to  pass  a  part 
of  the  vacation  in  London  ;  and  in  the  letter  which 
conveyed  this  invitation,  an  extract  from  which 
Mr.  Buchanan  communicated  to  his  brother,  his 
kind  friend  expressed  himself  as  follows  : 

"  Our  acquaintance  was  providential  indeed ! 
but  it  is  a  providence  for  which  I  hope  ever  to  be 
thankful ;  and  to  account  it  one  of  the  chief  honors 
and  pleasures  of  my  life,  to  have  been  made  in- 
strumental in  bringing  you  forward.  May  you  be 
kept  in  the  mind  you  express,  to  prefer  '  a  grain 
of  humility  to  a  mountain  of  gold  ;*  and  you  will 
be  like  the  tree  described  in  the  first  Psalm,  and 
Jeremiah  17,  when  my  head  is  laid  in  the  dust.  I 
hear  well  of  you  from  all  quarters." 

The  relaxation,  however,  thus  proposed,  both  in 
Norfolk  and  London,  as  well  as  the  offer  of  an  ex- 
cursion with  a  Cambridge  friend,  Mr.  Buchanan, 
with  commendable  self-denial,  thought  it  most  ex- 
pedient to  decline,  and  determined  on  accepting 
the  indulgence  granted  him  of  remaining  in  college 
during  the  whole  vacation. 


AT   CAMBRIDGE.  65 

"  It  would  be  very  pleasing,"  lie  says,  '*  to  make 
a  short  tour  with  a  proper  companion ;  but  I  think 
I  could  not  do  it  without  danger  to  myself.  If  I 
were  somewhat  advanced  in  the  christian  life,  and 
more  stable  in  the  way  of  truth,  I  perhaps  might ; 
but  at  present  I  cannot,  I  dare  not  trust  the  deceit- 
fulness  of  my  own  heart.  In  the  retirement  of  a 
college  I  am  unable  to  suppress  evil  thoughts  and 
vain  wishes  ;  how  then  must  it  be  abroad  1  Besides, 
I  find  that  the  art  of  study  is  difficult  to  attain.  I 
must  serve  a  long  apprenticeship  to  it  ere  I  am  a 
good  proficient.  The  greatest  danger  lies  in  break- 
ing the  thread  of  attention.  On  whatever  study  my 
mind  is  fixed,  that  study  I  can  with  pleasure  re- 
sume ;  but  if  an  interval  of  a.  day  intervene,  my  at- 
tention is  disengaged.  I  am  conscious  that  I  have 
lost  a  day  as  to  that  study,  and  find  it  irksome  to 
begin  de  novo.  But  if  instead  of  a  day,  an  interval 
of  a  week  or  month  should  intervene,  it  would  be 
a  herculean  labor  to  resume  it  j  and  nothing  could 
smooth  the  way  but  a  conviction  that  the  interrup- 
tion was  from  necessity ;  then,  indeed,  my  duty 
would  remove  the  obstacle. 

"  That  you  may  have  some  idea  of  the  nature  of 
my  present  studies,  I  shall  subjoin  the  calendar 
of  a  day. 

i  after  4  to    8,  Devotional  Studies. 

8  to    9,  Breakfast  and  Recreation. 

6* 


66  MEMOIR    OF    DR.    BUCHANAN. 

9  to    2,  Mathematics. 

2  to    4,  Dinner  and  Recreation. 

4  to    G,  Classics. 

6  to    7,  Enji^agements,  or  Recreation. 

7  to    9,  Classics,  or  Logic,  &c. 
9  to  10,  Devotional  Studies. 

10  to  i  after  4,  Sleep." 

Few  persons  would  be  disposed  to  think,  on 
reviewing  the  preceding  distribution  of  his  time, 
that  Mr.  Buchanan  had,  at  this  early  period  of  his 
academical  course,  assigned  too  small  a  portion  to 
studies  directly  connected  with  his  future  profes- 
sion. This  is,  however,  the  reflection  which  he  im- 
mediately suggests  to  his  friend  ;  expressing  his 
fears,  which  were  certainly  groundless,  lest  his  pa- 
tron should  say  that  he  had  not  sent  him  to  Cam- 
bridge to  learn  geometry;  and,  above  all,  lest  the 
science  which  he  was  thus  diligently  pursuing 
should  not  ultimately  reward  him.  It  would,  in- 
deed, he  says,  be  distressing  to  him  to  appear  un- 
qualified for  his  office  as  a  preacher;  "  but  then  I 
hope,"  he  adds,  "  I  sliall  make  more  commendable 
proficiency  in  my  divine  studies  when  I  undertake 
them.  This  hope  alone  enables  me  to  persevere  in 
my  present  course." 

*'  I  apprehend,"  continues  he,  "  that  a  student 
should  lahor  as  for  his  daily  broad  ;  not  choosing 
the  study  he  may  like  best,  for  then  it  would  be  no 
labor^  but  learning  the  great  lesson  of  self-denial 


AT    CAMHRIDCE.  67 

by  taking  up  the  study  he  likes  least,  if  it  be  best 
for  him.  If  I  can  by  nine  hours'  study  a  day  serve 
my  heavenly  Master  as  faithfully  as  I  served  Mr. 
D ,  I  think  he  will  give  me  my  hire." 

Having  received  a  paternal  reply  from  Rev.  Mr. 
Newton,  he  again  thus  writes  to  his  venerable 
friend  : 

"  Rather  than  you  should  have  a  moment's  un- 
easiness lest  the  purity  of  my  heart  should  be  taint- 
ed by  mathematics,  I  would  throw  every  mathe- 
matical book  I  have  into  the  fire.  For,  compared 
with  the  word  of  truth,  they  are  as  dross  to  fine 
gold.  In  a  certain  degree  they  may  be  useful,  and 
to  that  degree  I  would  desire  them ;  and  I  hope  to 
be  led  so  far,  and  no  farther.  At  first  I  disliked 
them  ;  but  considering  them  as  a  nauseous  medicine 
which  might  do  me  some  good,  I  took  them  up. 
You,  too,  bade  me.  After  a  while  they  became 
more  palatable,  and  at  length  a  pleasing  study. 
For  this  I  was  exceedingly  thankful,  as  they  were 
in  the  way  of  my  duty.  But  now,  as  I  have  arrived 
at  a  certain  length  in  them,  and  have  in  view  very 
soon  to  enter  on  an  important  office  which  requires 
much  preparation,  1  think  it  will  be  right — not  to 
relinquish  them  wholly — but  so  to  circumscribe 
them,  and  my  other  academical  exercises,  as  to 
afford  me  a  considerable  proportion  of  the  day  (the 


68  MEMOIR    OP    DR.    BUCHANAN. 

half,  if  possible)  for  '  the  preparation  of  the  Gospel 
of  peace/ 

"  I  do  not  mean  to  put  this  sudden  resolution 
into  practice  till  I  know  whether  it  be  right.  From 
some  experience,  I  know  myself  to  be  weak,  inju- 
dicious, inconstant,  changeable.  I  shall  therefore 
prosecute  my  studies  as  usual,  till  I  hear  from  you. 
Having  acquired  somewhat  of  a  reputation  for  my 
attention  to  college  studies,  if  I  can  preserve  it,  it 
will  be  a  desirable  thing ;  if  not,  I  cannot  help  it ; 
I  willingly  sacrifice  it  to  'a  better  name.' 

"  You  do  me  great  honor  in  the  proposal  you 
have  made.  I  would  rather  serve  you  in  your  old 
age  than  a  sceptre-bearing  king.  But  I  much  fear 
that  my  services  at  so  early  a  period  will  be  weak 
and  inadequate.  It  is  like  taking  a  babe  out  of  his 
cradle  to  support  the  steps  of  his  aged  parent. 
But  I  am  in  God's  hands  :  whatever  he  sees  fit  for 
me  to  do,  I  hope  he  will  incline  my  heart  and 
enable  me  to  do  it.  But  as  I  cannot  expect  that 
he  will  work  a  miracle  by  qualifying  me  for  his 
service  at  once,  it  is  certainly  my  duty  to  resort  to 
the  means  noiVy  and  i:>ray  for  his  blessing  on  his 
own  studies.     Surely  I  ought  not  to  procrastinate. 

*'  You  ask  me  whether  I  would  prefer  preach- 
ing the  Gospel  to  the  fame  of  learning  %  Ay,  that 
would  I,  gladly.  Were  I  convinced  it  was  the  will 
of  God  that  I  should  depart  this  night  for  Nova 
Zembla,  or  the  antipodes,   to  testify  of  Him,  I 


AT    CAMBRIDGE. 


^i 


would  not  wait  for  an  audit,  or  a  college  exit. 
There  is  nothing  to  be  found  here  to  satisfy  my 
mind.  There  are  indeed  many  gaudy  vanities  of 
specious  appearance,  pleasing  to  my  fleshly  eye ; 
but  if  1  know  my  own  heart,  the  Lord  Jesus  is  at 
this  moment  more  lovely  to  me  than  the  loveliest 
object  which  the  eye  can  see  or  fancy  paint.  And 
though  I  know  him  not  as  I  could  wish,  yet  is  ho 
precious.  He  is  that  pearl  which  I  would  willingly 
buy  at  the  price  of  all  the  laurels  which  science 
ever  bore.  But  I  speak  this  in  his  strength.  I 
wish  not  to  be  tried  with  wealth,  honor,  or  the 
applause  of  men.  A  laurel  even  in  preaching  the 
Gospel  might  intoxicate  my  brain,  and  drown  ray 
humble  dependence  on  God  in  Lethe.  Then,  like 
Lucifer,  should  1  preach  humility !  Lord,  ray  af- 
fections are  ?iow  in  thy  possession.  O,  keep  them 
there  ! 

"You  ask  me  what  are  my  views  ?  Dear  sir, 
what  views  can  I  have  1  God  has  his  views  con- 
cerning me  :  I  have  none.  Tie  best  knows  why  he 
brought  me  hither :  I  know  not.  Once  I  used  to 
think,  that  as  he  had  wrought  so  wondrously  for 
me,  he  surely  meant  me  for  an  eminent  preacher 
of  the  Gospel.  Pride  dictated  this.  I  now  have  no 
such  high  thoughts  of  myself.  1  am  in  some  de- 
gree sensible,  that  if  I  ever  serve  the  Lord  at  all, 
I  shall  be  one  of  his  weakest  servants.  Nor  are 
these  mere  disqualifying  speeches.     1  have  reason 


70  MEMOIR   OF    DR.    BUCHAXAJC. 

to  fear  that  I  am  much  more  deficient  than  you 
apprehend.  Nevertheless,  with  all  my  defects,  I 
know  the  divine  power.  I  have  laid  my  hand  to 
the  plough  ;  he  can  make  me  useful! 

"  You  desire  to  know  whether  I  would  accept 
ordination  before  I  take  my  degree,  if  it  could  be 
procured  1  Yes,  without  any  hesitation,  if  I  thought 
it  was  the  will  of  God.  Were  I  to  submit  it  to  our 
friends  here,  they  would  unanimously  dissuade  it ; 
but  I  do  not  feel  myself  at  liberty  to  consult  them. 
In  order  to  have  it  in  my  power  to  assist  you  as 
soon  as  possible,  I  would  gladly  receive  ordination 
before  the  prescribed  time  ;  but  in  that  case  I  should 
desire  immediately  to  alter  my  plan  of  study,  and 
prepare  myself  a  little,  who  need  so  much  prepa- 
ration. 

"  If  my  purpose  of  beginning  the  studies  of  di- 
vinity be  proper  and  practicable,  could  you  give 
me  the  outline  of  what  you  conceive  to  be  best 
worthy  my  attention  m  primordio  ?*  Mr.  S.  I 
know,  will  also  be  glad  to  lend  me  every  assist- 
ance. 

"  A  new  desire  of  preaching  the  Gospel  has  cer- 
tainly sprung  up  in  my  heart,  accompanied  by 
ideas  I  do  not  recollect  to  have  had  before.  I 
hope  it  is  no  delusion.  As  yet  it  has  produced 
noble  effects  on  my  heart  and  views.     But  in  a 

♦  As  first  in  order. 


AT    CAMBRIDGE.  7l 

month's  time  I  shall  be  better  able  to  say  whether 
it  be  of  God  or  no." 

Though  it  can  scarcely  be  doubted  that  con- 
tinued and  exclusive  efforts  would  have  rendered 
Mr.  Buchanan  successful  in  the  competition  for 
academical  honors ;  there  are  but  few,  perhap?, 
who,  under  all  the  circumstances  of  his  case,  will 
not  consider  him  as  having  piously,  if  not  wisely 
judged,  in  abandoning  that  flattering  pursuit;  and 
in  resolving  to  devote  a  larger  proportion  of  his 
time  to  studies  more  congenial  to  his  taste  and 
feelings,  and  more  directly  subservient  to  his 
ultimate  destination. 

At  the  close  of  the  long  vacation,  Mr.  Buchanan 
accordingly  communicated  this  determination  to 
Mr.  Newton. 

"  I  fear,  however,"  he  says,  "  that  it  will  be  dif- 
ficult for  me  to  conceal  the  change,  as  I  must  un- 
dergo  two  examinations  next  year,  which  will 
abundantly  scrutinize  my  proficiency ;  besides,  I 
have  many  competitors,  who  will  exult  when  they 
see  me  halt.  But  I  tnjst  I  shall  be  enabled  to  make 
every  necessary  sacrifice.  What  is  my  fame  com- 
pared with  that  of  the  Gospel  %  My  desire  is,  that 
my  light  may  so  shine  before  men,  that  they  seeing 
my  good  works,  may  glorify  my  Father  who  is  in 
heaven." 


72  MEMOIR    or    PR.    BUCHANAN', 

The  continuation  of  tliis  letter  shows  the  since- 
rity of  this  profession,  and  the  anxiety  which  Mr. 
Buchanan  felt  to  fulfil  it. 

"  How  happy  should  I  be,  did  I  always  know 
what  these  good  works  are.  It  is  strange  that  I 
should  err  when  I  have  the  Bible  to  direct  me ; 
but  I  find  that  it  requires  much  of  divine  teaching 
to  apply  the  general  rules  of  Scripture  to  particu- 
lar cases.  For  instance,  I  would  gladly  know 
whether  it  is  the  will  of  God  that  I  should  asso- 
ciate with  my  fellow-students  more  than  I  do. 
Whether  I  ought  to  separate  myself,  or  mingle 
with  them,  endeavor  to  obtain  some  weight  among 
them,  and  correct  their  manners,  and  seek  oppor- 
tunities of  speaking  for  God.  Some  of  them,  per- 
haps, never  heard  the  terms  of  the  Gospel  in  their 
lives.  If  I  were  *  wise  as  a  serpent,'  I  might  possi- 
bly, under  God,  entwine  some  of  them  in  the  net  of 
the  Gospel.  Of  late  this  subject  has  been  much  on 
my  mind,  and  I  have  been  earnest  in  prayer  that  I 
may  be  made  useful  to  some  of  them.  At  my  rooms 
they  have  always  acted  with  the  strictest  decorum  ; 
scarcely  a  faulty  word  has  .been  spoken  ;  and  I 
know  not  but  I  might  have  been  a  restraint  upon 
them  at  their  own.  My  principal  reason  for  resist- 
ing their  frequent  invitations,  is  a  fear  lest  I  should 
lose  time  in  idle  conversation,  or  be  unawares  led 
into  undue  compliances.  This  latter  operated  much 


AT   CAMBRIDGE.  73 

"Witli  me.  I  have  been  surprised  that  my  conduct 
did  not  draw  upon  me  their  opon  reproach.  But 
the  Lord  '  tempers  the  wind  to  the  shorn  lamb.* 
Last  year  I  was  extremely  weak,  ill-grounded  in 
the  truth,  arfd  perhaps  should  have  sunk  under 
much  opposition.  During-  this  vacation  I  trust  I  have 
obtained  more  spiritual  strength  ;  and  perhaps  1 
shall  soon  have  occasion  to  exercise  it." 

Li  compliance  with  his  request,  Mr.  Newton 
had  recommended  several  books  to  Mr.  Buchanan 
for  the  commencement  of  his  theoloojical  studies. 
To  this  point  he  therefore  next  refers. 

"  I  propose  to  confine  myself  to  three  branches 
of  divinity  during  the  following  year  ;  namely,  the 
Bible,  Bishop  Pearson  on  the  Creed,  and  Mr.  Si- 
meon's Lectures  on  Revealed  Religion.  He  went 
through  a  course  of  natural  religion  last  year.  My 
reason  for  beginning  with  Pearson  is,  because  Dr. 
Hey  gives  public  lectures  on  that  author,  which  I 
wish  to  attend,  if  my  college  avocations  permit.'* 

• 
In  addition  to  the  motives  which  have  been  al- 
ready stated  for  relaxation  in  his  mathematical 
studies,  Mr.  Buchanan  again  mentions  in  this  let- 
ter the  importance  of  health.  '^^  I  see,"  he  observes, 
"  many  around  me  Vv^hose  usefulness  is  abridged 
by  the  want  of  it.    Mr.  L.  and  Mr.  R.  men  of  abi- 

Buclianaii.  » 


74  MEMOIR    OF    DR.    BUCHAXA.\', 

lity,  are  both  lying  hy.  I  begin  to  think,  that  if,  at 
the  expiration  of  my  academic  course,  I  have  good 
health,  some  knowledge  of  the  Bible,  and  some 
zeal,  I  may  prove  as  useful  as  some  who  have 
great  abilities,  great  eloquence,  and — an  asthma !" 

The  paragraph  immediately  following  contains 
the  first  specific  intimation  of  the  important  and 
interesting  sphere  of  ministerial  labor  to  which 
the  providence  of  God  was  conducting  him. 

''  Mr.  and  Mrs.  G.  passed  through  Cambridge 
lately.  Mr.  S.  and  I  dined  and  supped  with  them. 
I  hope  the  conversation  of  that  evening  was  useful 
to  me.  From  hearing  various  accounts  of  the  apos- 
tolic spirit  of  some  missionaries  to  the  Indies,  and 
of  the  extensive  field  for  preaching  the  Gospel 
there,  I  was  led  to  desire  that  I  might  be  well 
qualified  for  such  a  department,  in  case  God  should 
intend  me  for  it.  Hence  the  origin  of  my  three  de- 
siderata above  mentioned — scripture  knowledge, 
some  zeal,  and  srood  health." 

The  subject  of  elocution  is  that  to  which  Mr. 
Buchanan  next  adverts  in  this  letter : 

I  have  read  many  codicils  in  my  time,  but  I 
never  read  any  one  with  such  pleasure  as  that  an- 
nexed to  your  letter.  Do  you  think  it  possible  that 


AT    CAMBRIDGE.  75 

I  ever  shall  be  able  to  preach  extempore  from  the 
pulpit  1  You  know  my  defect  in  conversation.  1 
scarcely  know  a  person  of  any  education  who  is  so 
much  at  a  loss  in  ordinary  expression  as  I  am.  My 
fault  is  not  that  of  Demosthenes,  else  there  might 
be  hope  of  amendment.  I  have  no  natural  defect 
in  the  organs  of  speech  ;  but  I  can  never  find  apt 
words  to  express  my  ideas  without  much  premedi- 
tation. I  have  a  pretty  large  stock  of  words  in  my 
head,  but  they  are  seldom  used  :  so  that  when  I 
am  able  to  draw  some  of  them  out,  they  appear 
quite  strange  to  me.  I  fancy  I  have  some  hundreds 
which  I  never  used  in  my  life.  This  partly  arises 
from  our  Scottish  mode  of  education — reading 
much  and  speaking  little  ;  but  chiefly,  I  suppose, 
from  my  being  secluded  from  society  for  so  many 
years.  During  my  residence  in  London,  I  lived, 
like  the  Spectator,  in  silence.  My  business  was  to 
write,  not  to  speak.  Since  my  coming  to  Cam- 
bridge, I  have  passed  most  of  my  time  in  silent 
study.  On  an  average  I  suppose  I  have  not  spoken 
half  an  hour  a  day,  including  both  lectures  and 
conversation.  So  you  see  that  taciturnity  is  a  dis- 
ease in  me  ;  an  evil  habit  of  five  years'  standing. 
When  a  boy  I  could  scold  well  enough,  but  1  do 
not  think  I  could  scold  now.  In  conversation  I  am 
naturally  cheerful,  and  therefore  I  must  speak, 
whether  I  can  do  it  well  or  ill :  but  I  ascribe  the  pa- 
tience of  my  company  to  my  cheerfulness,  not  to 
my  diction. 


76  MEMOIR    OF    DR.    BUCHANAN. 

"  Though  I  never  mentioned  it  to  you,  there 
has  scarcely  been  a  subject  more  on  my  mind, 
since  providence  opened  to  me  a  view  of  the 
pulpit,  than  this  of  public  speaking.  I  was  in  hopes 
that  I  should  have  had  some  opportunity  of  im- 
provement at  Cambridge,  but  I  have  none.  Mr.  S. 
regrets  that  there  is  no  person  in  Cambridge  who 
teaches  elocution,  and  he  regrets  it  much  on  my 
account.  He  has  kindly  proposed  to  me  to  read  to 
him  once  a  fortnight.  This  is  my  only  resource  at 
present.  I  have  little  advantage  from  my  college 
companions.  Most  of  them  speak  ill,  and  read 
worse.  All  I  can  do  is  to  read  aloud  by  myself  oc- 
casionally. I  am  persuaded  that  it  would  be  worth 
a  student's  while  to  spend  two  or  three  hours  a 
day,  for  iome  years  previous  to  his  entering  into 
the  ministry,  in  the  attainment  of  that  accomplish- 
ment which  distinguished  the  preacher  Apollos.  I 
have  often  thought  how  glad  I  should  be  if  oratory 
were  introduced  into  my  college-course  instead  of 
mathematics.  Mr.  Thornton's  desires  on  this  head 
should  be  an  additional  inducement  to  me  to  ap- 
ply diligently  to  this  study." 

Though  the  peculiar  circumstances  of  Mr.  Bu- 
chanan's birth  and  education  may  account  for  hia 
complaint  and  anxiety  upon  the  subject  of  elocu* 
tion,  it  is  but  too  notorious,  that  those  who  do  not 
labor  under  his  disadvantages  are  frequently  as  de- 


AT    CAMBRIDGE.  77 

ficient,  and  not  seldom  much  more  so,  in  this  im- 
portant accomphshment. 

He  soon  after  says  to  Mr.  Newton,  "  I  have  been 
indulging  myself  a  little  in  writing  a  sermon.   It  is 

for  Mr.  S 's  perusal ;  that  he  may  be  able  to 

judge  of  my  improvement,  if  I  am  spared  to  write 
another  next  year.  It  is  on  the  matter  and  manner 
of  a  preacher  of  the  Gospel :  '  And  he  spake  bold- 
ly in  the  name  of  Jesus.'  Acts,  9  :  29.     I  have  just 

delivered  it  to  Mr.  S .    I  fear  he  will  think  it 

a  rhapsody ;  and  what  makes  it  worse,  it  is  twenty- 
seven  pages  long.  I  fancy  that  youthful  sermon- 
writers  are  generally  at  a  loss  how  to  begin,  and 
when  they  do  begin,  they  know  not  where  to  stop." 

At  the  close  of  the  term  he  again  writes  :  "  I 
have  now  done  with  all  our  lectures,  and  I  am  glad 
of  it.  Though  I  found  some  things  here  and  there 
which  flattered  the  earthly  mind,  and  pleased  vain- 
glorious reason,  yet  in  all  my  researches  have  I 
found  nothing  like — '  Come  unto  me  all  ye  that  la- 
bor and  are  heavy  laden,  and  I  will  give  you  rest.' 
Perhaps  your  good  memory  will  remind  you  that 
I  stole  this  idea  from  Archbishop  Leighton.  Agree- 
ably to  your  recommendation,  I  am  now  reading 
the  Praelections  of  that  good  man  :  and  I  must  say 
that  I  have  seldom  met  with  such  genuine  Chris- 
tianity in  such  a  classical  dress. 

"  The  college  have  lately  appointed  me  their 
librarian.    This  is  an  office  rather  of  trust  than  of 
7* 


78  MEMOIR   OF    Dll.    BUCHANAN. 

emolument.  My  business  is  easily  done,  as  I  am 
only  required  to  give  in  an  account  of  the  state  of 
the  library  once  a  year.  Many  good  divines  of  the 
last  century  have  found  a  place  in  it.  Halyburton's 
life  has  engaged  my  attention  for  a  few  days  past. 
His  work  on  the  Spirit"  (which  had  probably 
been  recommended  to  him  by  Mr.  Newton)  "  I 
cannot  find." 

The  following  letter  to  Mr.  Newton,  dated  May 
30,  1793,  conveys  sentiments  and  consolations  too 
interesting  to  be  omitted  : 

"  It  gives  me  great  pleasure  to  hear  that  you 
are  still  supported  in  health  and  strength  sufficient 
for  the  discharge  of  your  ministerial  labors.  I  hope 
that  you  will  continue  to  be  refreshed  abundantly 
with  the  divine  presence ;  and  I  pray,  that  as  your 
body  yields  to  weakness  and  the  infirmities  of  age, 
your  spirit  may  derive  new  strength  from  our  Re- 
deemer's fulness. 

"  I  sometimes  find  myself  indulging  a  wish  that 
your  experience  in  your  evening  hour  may  be  sin- 
gularly joyful  to  you ;  and  that  your  death  may 
preach  as  powerfully  as  your  life  has  done.  But  I 
believe  self  prompts  us  sometimes  to  too  sanguine 
expectations  respecting  our  friends.  Let  us  not 
dictate,  but  wait  and  see  the  salvation  of  the  Lord. 
He  will  conduct  you  in  the  path  n^ost  suitable  to 
his  own  glory,  your  good,  and  our  edification. 


AT    CAMBRIDGE.  79 

"  We  have  lately  had  an  illustrious  instance  of 
God's  goodness  to  his  children  at  the  hour  of  death. 

Mrs. ,  of  this  place,  was  a  woman  of  eminent 

piety,  cheerful  in  disposition,  and  of  elegant  man- 
ners. She  was  but  twenty-five  years  of  age.  I  was 
introduced  to  her  family  about  a  twelvemonth  ago, 
and  have  diligently  cultivated  her  acquaintance 
ever  since.  Soon  after  her  rising  from  her  confine- 
ment, she  discovered  that  she  was  in  a  rapid  con- 
sumption ;  and  in  a  few  weeks  the  strength  of  the 
malady  seemed  to  forbid  all  hope  of  life.  Her  bo- 
dily pains  were  extreme,  so  that  she  frequently 
expressed  a  desire  to  be  with  the  Lord  ;  but  she 
had  yet  two  ties  to  earth — her  husband  and  her 
child.  The  child  she  was  soon  enabled  to  give  up, 
but  the  husband — this  she  confessed  to  be  a  trial 
indeed.  However,  after  strong  cries  and  tears,  she 
obtained  a  victory  here  also.  She  afterwards  re- 
covered from  a  trial  of  another  kind  with  an  ani- 
mating faith  in  her  Redeemer's  love,  and  an  assur- 
ance of  the  joy  about  to  be  revealed.  This  was  on 
Sunday  morning  at  five  o'clock.  In  half  an  hour 
after,  she  intimated  that  her  departure  was  at 
hand.  It  was  now  that  she  experienced  the  truth 
of  the  promise  of  dying  strength  for  a  dying  hour. 
For,  though  unable  to  speak,  yet  she  discovered 
her  inward  joy  by  such  animation  of  countenance 
as  delighted  her  surrounding  friends.  And  when 
her  mother  and  sister  spoke  to  her  of  her  approach- 


80  MEMOIR    OF    DR.    BUCHANAN. 

ing  happiness,  her  eyes  seemed  to  glisten  with 
new  fire.  '  What  a  joyful  Sabbath  you  will  have 
to-day,'  said  her  sister.  Her  looks  seemed  to  reply, 
*  A  joyful  Sabbath  indeed;  an  eternal  Sabbath!* 
In  a  few  minutes  afterwards  she  waved  her  hand 
in  token  of  her  abundant  entrance  into  the  joy  of 
her  Lord.  And  like  your  dear  E.  C*  she  met 
death  with  a  smile,  which  kept  possession  of  her 
features  until  she  was  consigned  to  the  grave. 

"  I  would  not  have  dwelt  so  long  on  this  subject, 
were  it  not  that  my  esteem  for  the  deceased  was 
great. 

"  Perhaps  you  would  call  it  affectation,  if  I  did 
not  tell  you  that  the  college  have  adjudged  to  me 
the  first  prize  for  the  best  Latin  declamation  on 
'  the  stage.' 

"  I  believe  I  must  pass  this  summer  out  of  Cam- 
bridge. I  think  of  going  to  London  about  the  be- 
ginning of  July,  that  I  may  have  a  few  lessons  in 
English  pronunciation,  in  compliance  with  Mr. 
Thornton's  desire. 

"  I  have  been  assaulted  of  late  from  various 
quarters,  both  from  without  and  from  within  ;  but 
I  bless  God,  that  while  I  pray  over  the  Bible  I 
am  enabled  to  triumph  over  my  enemies.  I  delight 
in  the  Bible.  When  my  heart  is  melted  within  me< 
and  my  soul  sick  with  the  combat  between  the 

•  Eliza  Cunningham.  See  American  Tract  No.  83. 


AT    CAMBRIDGE.  81 

contempt  of  the  ungodly  and  the  remains  of  my 
own  pride,  then  the  Bible  affords  a  comfort  no 
other  book  can  give." 

In  a  similar  strain  as  to  his  increasing  love  of 
the  Holy  Scriptures,  and  in  peculiarly  strong  and 
lively  terms  as  to  the  general  state  of  his  mind 
concerning  religion,  he  thus  writes  to  the  same 
correspondent  in  the  month  of  June  following  : 

"  I  see  you  still  have  a  godly  jealousy  over  me, 
respecting  the  bent  of  my  studies.  I  must  make 
you  easy  on  that  head.  I  can  now  inform  you  that 
the  attention  I  pay  to  the  classics  or  mathematics 
is  comparatively  very  little  ;  so  little,  that  I  some- 
times fear  that  (in  my  present  place)  I  neglect 
them  too  much.  And  I  can  further  inform  you,  and 
I  thank  God  for  enabling  me,  that  the  cause  of  my 
being  thus  lukewarm  in  these  studies,  is,  that  I 
may  redeem  time  for  studying  the  Scriptures,  the 
value  of  which  knowledge  I  see  more  and  more. 
At  present  I  can  read  the  Bible  when  I  can  read 
nothing  else.  Some  of  my  other  studies  are  truly  a 
cross  to  me." 

What  an  unquestionable  proof  of  a  spiritual 
mind  in  an  academical  student  is  such  a  declara. 
tion  as  this  !   He  thus  continues  : 

"  I  dare  not  tell  you  what  I  am,  but  I  can  tell 
you  what  I  pray  for. 


82  MEMOIR    OP    DR.    BUCHANAN. 

"  I  pray  that  I  may  be  content  to  be  of  no  re- 
putation among  men,  knowing  that  if  I  am  truly 
wise,  I  must  become  a  fool  among  the  ungodly  ; 
that  I  may  patiently  submit  to  indignity  and  re- 
proach for  Christ's  sake,  and  that  my  whole  life 
may  be  devoted  to  his  service  ;  that  for  this  pur- 
pose I  may  diligently  improve  the  talent  commit- 
ted to  me,  however  little  it  may  be  ;  and  that 
when  I  go  forth  into  the  ministry,  I  may  not  seek 
self,  but  Christ ;  content  to  be  unnoticed,  dead  to 
the  censure  or  applause  of  men,  alive  to  God  and 
his  concerns,  and  chiefly  solicitous  that  my  preach- 
ing (however  rude  I  may  be  in  speech)  may  be 
powerful  in  awakening  souls. 

"  These  are  my  prayers  in  1793,  as  to  the  event 
of  my  studies.  I  trust  the  Lord  that  he  will  keep 
me  ;  that  he  will  put  his  fear  in  my  heart,  that  I 
may  not  depart  from  him. 

'*  You  talk  to  me  of  academical  reputation  and 
dignity.  If  I  were  Regius  Professor  of  Divinity 
to-morrow,  I  would  resign  the  dignity  to  any  man 
for  a  little  brokenness  of  heart.  The  summit  of 
my  ambition  (if  I  know  my  own  mind)  is,  to  be 
daily  more  conformed  to  Christ,  to  be  enabled  to 
follow  that  great  Sufferer,  and  to  rejoice  to  be 
counted  worthy  to  suffer  shame  for  his  sake. 

"  As  to  my  future  situation  in  the  ministry,  to 
which  you  allude  at  the  close  of  your  letter,  that 
subject  is  very  little  in  my  thoughts.  God  has  done 


AT    CAMBRIDGE.  88 

the  greater  ;  shall  he  not  do  the  less  ?  If  he  means 
me  to  preach  his  Gospel,  then  is  the  pulpit  pre- 
pared, and  the  flock  which  I  must  tend.  At  present 
I  feel  ready  to  go  wherever  he  pleases  to  send 
me  ;  whether  to  India,  America,  New  Holland,  or 
if  there  be  any  other  land  more  remote.  I  have  al- 
ready seen  life  in  various  shapes ;  and  if  I  have 
been  enabled  to  bear  with  difficulties  when  without 
God  in  the  world,  much  more  when  engaged  in  his 
service,  aided  by  his  Spirit  and  supported  by  his 
presence. 

"  If  the  Lord  will,  I  should  be  well  pleased  to 
enter  his  service  under  your  advice  and  example. 
I  hope  that  the  first  year  I  stay  with  you  I  shall 
learn  humility  ;  the  second,  humility  ;  the  third, 
humility. 

"  Mr.  S.  and  Mrs.  M.  beg  their  love  to  you  ;  and 
so  does  he,  who  is,  with  great  respect  and  affec- 
tion, yours." 

The  note  inscribed  by  Mr.  Newton  on  the  pre- 
ceding letter,  strongly  attests  the  pleasure  with 
which  he  perused  it ;  nor  can  it  be  generally  read 
without  a  lively  impression  of  the  glowing  and  de- 
voted piety  of  its  author.  Two  months  afterwards 
we  find  him  in  London,  replying  to  a  letter  from 
Mr.  Newton,  then  in  the  country,  in  which  his  aged 
friend,  under  the  painful  remembrance  of  the  tran- 
sitory nature  of  eaithly  enjoyments,  though  by  no 


84  MEMOIR  OF   DR.   RfCHANAN. 

means  in  the  spirit  of  disappointment  and  conrl* 
plaint,  had  declared  that  of  a  happiness  which  had 
subsisted  forty  years,  nothing  then  remained  but 
the  recollection  ;  that  the  years  he  had  passed, 
blessed  as  they  had  been  by  the  sunshine  of  pro- 
vidence and  grace,  might  be  numbered  with  the 
years  before  the  flood.  After  dwelling  on  the  war- 
fare which  he  found  it  necessary  to  wage  between 
^^  spiritual  self  and  carnal  self,"  he  says  : 

"  Co7iiinunion  tvith  God,  in  private  prayer,  is,  I 
conceive,  the  best  strengthener  of  the  soul ;  and 
communion  with  the  world  is  its  greatest  weakener. 
The  result,  then,  appears  to  be  this  t  To  dedicate 
as  much  time  as  possible  to  acts  of  communion 
with  God.  But  Archbishop  Leighton  says,  that  the 
desire  of  this  sacred  communion  grows  with  its 
exercise.  Every  encouragement,  therefore,  is  held 
out  to  this  mode  of  attack  and  defence,  since  plea- 
sure Und  profit  conspire  to  recommend  it.  Prayer, 
then,  I  must  consider  as  the  christian's  palladium, 
and  as  a  present  reward. 

"  Surely  an  hour  iu  the  morning,  and  an  hour  in 
the  evening,  is  not  too  much  for  communion  with 
God.  But  as  to  the  season  of  prayer,  I  do  not 
think  that  some  manage  this  weU.  They  pray  early 
in  the  morning,  and  laic  at  night.  This  may  be  ne- 
cessary in  families  engaged  in  business ;  but  I 
speak  of  ministers.  Do  you  not  tliink  that  an  hour 


At  CAMBRtDOS.  S5 

of  devotion  before  we  engage  in  company  in  the 
afternoon,  -^vould  have  a  tendency  to  correct  and 
animate  an  evening's  conversation  1 

'*  Pardon  this  dissertation  on  prayer.  I  really 
had  no  design  to  trouble  you  with  it  when  I  began 
the  letter.** 

To  reflections  such  as  the  preceding,  as  solid 
and  judicious  as  they  are  spiritual  and  instructive, 
no  serious  reader  will  object.  Nor  will  the  follow- 
ing account  of  the  death  of  one  of  Mr.  Buchan- 
an's  sisters,  v/hich  occurs  in  a  letter  to  Mr.  New- 
ton, from  Cambridge,  at  the  close  of  his  second 
long  vacation,  be  deemed  uninteresting  : 

''  It  was  about  a  year  and  a  half  ago,  on  her  re- 
turn .from  boarding-school,  that  her  piety  first  ap- 
peared, though  on  her  death-bed  she  confessed  that 
her  heart  had  been  inclining  to  God  nearly  two  years 
before  that  time.  About  three  months  since  she  was 
seized  by  a  consumption,  which  has  now  given  her 
a  happy  release  from  all  sin  and  all  sorrow.'* 

A  letter  still  remains,  written  by  Mr.  Buchanan 
from  Cambridge  to  his  dying  sister,  for  the  pur- 
jiose  of  cheering  and  supporting  her  under  her 
early  departure  from  the  world,  the  piety  and  fra- 
ternal affection  of  which  will  sufficiently  recom* 
mend  the  following  extracts  : 

Buchanan  S 


6^  MExMom    OF    DR.    BUCHANAN. 

*'  I  rejoice  to  hear  that  you  are  about  to  chtef 
into  the  joy  of  your  Lord  ;  to  behold  the  Saviour 
whom  you  love,  face  to  face ;  to  be  clothed  by 
him  in  a  spotless  robe,  and  presented  to  the  Father 
as  an  heir  of  everlasting  glory. 

"  Let  me  encourage  you  to  pass  over  Jordan's 
iiood  with  a  resolute  step,  undismayed  ;  let  me  re- 
mind you  of  the  promise  of  Him  to  whom  the 
death  of  his  saints  is  precious.  Let  me  enforce  the 
immutable  love  of  your  God,  and  proclaim  to  you 
the  truth  of  your  Redeemer.  You  have  already 
known  him  as  the  ivaij ;  on  your  death-bed  you 
will  find  him  the  truth  ;  and  he  will  quickly  wel- 
come you  to  the  gate  of  Zion  as  the  eternal  life. 

"  My  dear  sister,  be  of  good  cheer;  lay  hold  of 
Jesus  as  the  anchor  of  your  soul.  Was  it  ever 
heard  that  any  one  who  fled  to  him  for  refuge  was 
deserted  in  a  tiying  hour  %  Was  it  ever  known  that 
he  suffered  one  of  his  sheep  to  be  plucked  out  of 
his  hand  ]  Has  he  not  said,  *  I  will  never  leave 
thee  nor  forsake  thee  V  '  When  thou  passest 
through  the  waters,  I  will  be  with  thee ;'  *  Fear 
not,  thou  art  mine.'  These  are  exceeding  great  and 
precious  promises,  on  which  you  may  safely  rest. 
If  your  faith  be  weak,  yet  waver  not.  The  pro- 
raise  is  to  the  weak  as  well  as  to  the  strong ;  yea, 
to  all  those  who  can  say,  *  Thou  knowest,  Lord, 
that  I  love  thee.' 

"  While  you  have  life,  magnify  the  praises  of 


AT    CAMBRIDGE.  87 

Him  who  hath  called  you  with  such  a  holy  calling. 
Evince  to  the  world  that  the  Bible  is  not  a  cun- 
ningly-devised fable.  Seek  to  glorify  God  in  your 
death,  and  assuredly  he  will  give  you  faith  to  do 
it.  Sjieak  from  your  dying  bed  of  the  things  of  the 
kingdom  to  which  you  are  hastening ;  impart  your 
views  of  the  vanities  of  life,  for  the  benefit  of  those 
who  survive  you.  Pray  that  a  double  portion  of 
your  spirit  may  rest  upon  your  brother,  that  he  may 
gladden  your  eyes  at  the  last  day  with  a  view  of 
many  souls  whom  he  has  brought  with  him  to  glory. 
Leave  him  such  exhortations,  encouragements,  and 
reproofs,  as  an  immediate  prospect  of  heaven  may 
inspire  you  to  give. 

''  And  now  let  me  conduct  you  as  far  as  I  can, 
even  to  the  gates  of  Jerusalem.  Many  a  song  will 
be  sung,  many  a  harp  be  strung,  on  your  entrance 
into  the  kingdom  of  heaven.  Who  is  this  that  I  see 
foremost  to  welcome  you  1  Is  it  not  your  grand- 
father or  your  father  1  My  dear  sister,  what  joy  is 
this  !  They,  accompanied  by  a  heavenly  host,  con- 
duct you  to  your  Saviour,  your  King,  and  your 
God.  Then  your  glory  begins  ;  you  are  crowned 
with  honor  and  immortality.  You  join  in  the  never- 
ending  song  of  '  Worthy  the  Lamb, 'and  drink  of 
;  the  pleasures  which  are  at  God's  right  hand  for 
evermore." 

i      The  preceding  pious  and  animated  address  did 


88  MEMOIR   OP    DR.    BUCHANAN. 

not  arrive  until  the  relative,  for  whose  consolation 
it  was  intended,  was  beyond  the  reach  of  human 
joy  or  sorrow. 

The  account,  however,  which  Mr.  Buchanan,  in 
the  words  of  another  sister,  gives  to  Mr.  Newton 
of  the  last  trying  scene,  is  peaceful  aud  encouraging: 

"  She  now,"  he  says,  "  in  faith  looked  forward 
to  her  rest,  and  spent  much  of  her  time  in  reading 
the  Scriptures,  and  in  prayer. 

''  On  the  evening  of  the  day  she  died,  she  said 
to  her  mother,  '  I  think  that  my  hour  is  now  come.' 
Her  mother  was  surprised  at  this,  as  there  appear- 
ed no  visible  change  in  her  countenance.  She  im- 
mediately began  to  pray,  and  prayed  long.  Her 
mother  overheard  some  of  her  words.  She  prayed 
*  that  she  might  be  found  in  Christ ;  that  she  might 
have  a  title  to  that  covenant  which  is  well-ordered 
and  sure.'  About  the  conclusion  of  her  prayer 
death  appeared  to  be  fast  approaching.  She  begged 
that  the  family  might  come  round  her  bed  ;  and 
then  began  to  exhort  them,  and  to  speak  to  them 
of  the  kingdom  of  God.  Her  mother,  observing 
that  her  last  moment  was  now  at  hand,  asked  her 
if  she  had  any  thing  to  say  to  her  brother  at  Cam- 
bridge. *  Yes,'  said  she  ;  '  tell  him,  be  sure  you  tell 
him,'  (repeating  it  emphatically,)  *  that  I  die  trust- 
ing in  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.'  She  then  lifted  up 
both  her  hands,  and  looking  up  to  heaven,  commit 


AT    CAMIJIIIDGE.  89 

ted  herself  to  the  Lord,  her  eyes  streaming  with 
joy  ;  which,  having  done,  she  sunk  on  the  pillow 
and  expired. 

"  The  manner  of  her  death,"  continues  Mr. 
Buchanan,  "  has  given  my  mother  a  comfort  in- 
expressible. 

"  I  know  nothing  which  has  had  a  jjreater  ten- 
dency  to  animate  me  in  my  christian  course  than 
this  triumph  of  my  sister.  O  were  the  work  done 
which  my  Father  hath  given  me  to  do,  how  gladly 
should  I  accompany  her  ! 

"  I  hope  you  are  at  present  a  large  partaker  of 
the  consolations  of  the  Spirit.  Though  I  am  young, 
I  know  thus  much,  that  without  those  consolations 
there  is  no  happiness.  What  a  blessing,  that  the 
pleasures  of  holiness  begin  on  this  side  the  grave  !" 

Early  in  the  year  1794  Mr.  Newton  made  the 
first  direct  proposal  to  Mr.  Buchanan  of  a  voyage 
to  India.  His  leply  was  as  follows  : 

"  I  request  you  to  accept  my  thanks  for  the  af- 
fectionate letter  which  I  have  just  now  read.  I 
have  only  time  to  say,  that  with  respect  to  my  go- 
ing to  India,  I  must  decline  giving  any  opinion. 
It  would  argue  a  mind  ill-instructed  in  the  school 
of  Christ,  to  pretend  to  decide  on  an  event  so 
important  and  unexpected ;  an  event  which  will 
doubtless  give  a  complexion  to  the  happiness  and 
usefulness  of  every  hour  of  my  future  life. 
8* 


90  MEMOIR    OP    DR.    BUCHANAN. 

"  It  is  with  great  pleasure  I  submit  this  matter 
to  the  determination  of  yourself,  Mr.  Thornton,  and 
Mr.  Grant.  All  I  wish  to  ascertain  is  the  will  of 
God.  I  hope  that  the  result  of  your  deliberations 
will  prove  to  be  his  will.  Were  I  required  to  say 
something,  I  should  observe  that  I  feel  myself  very 
ill  qualified  for  the  arduous  situation  in  question. 
My  intimate  friends  know  that  my  plan  of  college 
study  was,  to  attend  more  immediately  to  acade- 
mical learning  the  two  first  years,  and  to  prepara- 
tion for  the  ministry  in  the  third  and  last,  upon 
which  I  am  but  now  entering.  I  think  that  our  re- 
gard for  the  glory  of  God  requires  us  to  endeavor 
to  find  a  person  of  acknowledged  ability  in  things 
both  human  and  divine,  who  has  already  approved 
himself  such  an  one  as  might  successfully  resist 
gainsayers,  and  prosecute  his  mission  with  energy. 
A  beginner,  particularly  if  he  be  of  slender  capa- 
city and  attainments,  will  naturally  shrink  from 
such  a  situation,  fearing  lest  he  should  tarnish  the 
honor  of  his  embassy  by  an  unskilful  or  ungraceful 
negotiation. 

"  On  the  contrary,  if  the  Lord  does  with  me  as 
with  Jeremiah,  and  bids  a  child  go  and  teach  a 
great  nation,  it  would  be  vain  to  plead  my  incapa- 
city, since,  if  he  sends  me,  he  will  certainly  '  touch 
my  mouth.'  Only  I  would  observe,  that  in  the  pre- 
sent state  of  Christianity  it  would  appear  that  as 
strict  attention  ought  to  be  paid  to  human  means  in 


AT    CAMBRIDGE.  91 

our  endeavors  to  promote  the  success  of  the  Gos- 
pel, as  if  it  were  merely  a  human  dispensation. 

"  I  trust  that  every  word  of  the  above  is  dictated 
by  a  regard  to  God's  honor,  and  not  my  own. 

"  That  his  honor  may  be  greatly  promoted  by 
the  result  of  your  deliberations  is  the  prayer  of 

"  C B ."     . 

The  judgment  as  well  as  the  piety  of  Mr.  Bu- 
chanan's reply  to  this  proposal  desen'es  to  be  no- 
ticed, and  affords  a  satisfactory  indication  of  his 
qualifications  for  the  important  station  to  which  it 
refers.  The  following  sentiments  expressed  in  a 
subsequent  letter  are  equally  pleasing  : 

"  With  respect  to  my  going  to  India,  I  am  still 
in  a  strait  between  two.  Some  considerations  in- 
cline me  to  stay ;  others  persuade  me  to  go,  as  be- 
ing far  better.  Being  unable  to  judge  for  myself,  I 
submit  it  to  the  divine  direction  with  perfect  re- 
signation. So  gracious  is  He  who  '  careth  for  me* 
in  this  respect,  that  your  determination,  whether 
for  or  against  my  going,  will  be  alike  agieeable  to 
me.  I  am  equally  ready  to  preach  the  Gospel  in 
the  next  village,  or  at  the  ends  of  the  earth." 

Such  was  the  elevated  spirit  of  piety  which  ac- 
tuated Mr.  Buchanan  eaily  in  this  year.  As  it  ad- 
vanced, he  wrote  thus  to  Mr.  Newton : 


92  MEMOIR    OF    DR.    BUCHANAN. 

"  We  have  had  Mrs.  U and  Mr.  C 's  fa- 
mily at  Cambridge  for  a  few  days.  It  gives  me 
great  pleasure  to  see  piety  gladden  with  its  pre- 
sence our  learned  walls.  Pride  and  superstition 
have  doubtless  built  most  of  our  colleges  ;  but  I  am 
inclined  to  think  that  genuine  piety  founded  some 
of  them.  A  solitary  walk  in  such  places  has  a  ten- 
dency to  excite  elevated  tlioughts  of  God,  and  of 
his  goodness  to  man  through  successive  ages. 

**  My  purpose  in  troubling  you  with  this  letter 
was  to  say  that  I  bear  that  affection  for  you  a  child 
beareth  to  his  father,  a  desire  to  conceal  his  faults, 
(if  he  has  any)  and  to  magnify  his  virtues ;  that  I 
hope  to  be  preserved  from  the  snares  and  cares  of 
this  world,  and  thereby  enabled  to  adorn  that  Gos- 
pel which  you  first  wished  me  to  profess. 

"  That  you  are  blessed  with  health,  and  stayed 
by  the  comforts  of  the  Gospel  in  your  declining 
years,  is  to  me  a  frequent  theme  of  praise.  In  phi- 
losophy and  human  science  the  mind  loses  its  vi- 
gor by  old  age ;  but  in  religion,  in  divine  science, 
we  are  taught  to  believe  that  youth  will  be  restored, 
and  new  attainments  acquired.  Fortunatus  ille  se- 
nex,  qui  codicola  vivity* 

It  is  probable  that  Mr.  Buchanan  passed  the 
greater  part  of  the  long  vacation  of  this  year  at 

♦  Happy  the  aged  man  who  lives  as  already  an  inha. 
bitant  of  heaven. 


AT    CAMBRIDGE.  93 

Cambridsre.  No  letter,  indeed,  occurs  in  liis  cor- 
respondence  with  Mr.  Newton  from  the  com- 
mencement to  the  close  of  that  period ;  but  the 
following  interesting  communication  from  one  of 
his  most  valued  friends  and  relatives  seems  to  con- 
firm this  conjecture  : 

"  I  first  became  acquainted  with  him,"  observes 
this  gentleman,  "  at  Cambridge,  in  the  summer  of 
the  year  1794.  We  were  almost  the  only  two  re- 
sidents in  our  respective  colleges  of  Queen's  and 
St.  John's  ;  he  being  engaged  in  studying  for  or- 
ders, and  I  in  prepaiing  for  my  bachelor's  degree. 
1  had  often  heard  of  him  from  a  common  friend, 
as  being  a  very  distinguished  member  of  a  debat- 
ing society,  called  the  Speculative,  or  quaintly 
the  Spec,  consisting  of  a  number  of  under-gradu- 
ates  from  different  colleges,  especially  Trinity  and 
Queen's,  who  used  to  meet  at  each  other's  rooms 
to  discuss  various  moral,  political,  and  sometimes 
religious  questions.  He  was  represented  to  me  as 
eminent  among  the  speakers  for  acuteness  and  flu- 
ency, and  for  piety  of  sentiment ;  but  as  a  retired 
character,  who  scarcely  ever  mixed  with  any  other 
persons  at  such  social  meetings  as  were  usual  in 
the  college. 

'*  We  met  accidentally  in  our  solitary  walks,  and 
entered  into  conversation  ;  which  brought  on  an 
interchange  of  visits.    We  often  walked  together 


94  MEMOIR    OF    DR.    BUCHANAN. 

during  the  short  time  after  our  first  meeting  that 
he  continued  at  Cambridge.  I  well  remember  to 
this  moment  a  particular  conversation  which  took 
place  in  one  of  our  walks  on  a  fine  summer's  eve- 
ning, and  can  trace  in  my  recollection  some  of  the 
fields  through  which  we  rambled,  little  thinking 
that  we  should  ever  be  so  closely  united  in  the 
bonds  of  domestic  affection,  or  that  if  I  survived 
him,  I  should  have  to  drop  the  tear  of  hallowed 
regi'et  over  the  grave  of  a  brother. 

"  He  greatly  surprised  me  on  that  occasion  by 
strongly  condemning  the  vanity  of  the  pursuits  of 
ambition,  in  which  I  was  then  hotly  engaged,  co- 
veting too  earnestly  university  honors.  I  defended 
my  side,  in  which  self  was  so  deeply  concerned, 
with  much  warmth  and  positiveness  ;  but  when  I 
was  left  alone,  I  could  not  altogether  shake  off  the 
impression  which  his  serious,  solemn,  and  scrip- 
tural mode  of  argumentation  had  left  upon  my 
mind." 

The  same  learned  and  excellent  person  adds, 
with  reference  to  this  period  of  Mr.  Buchanan's 
life  :  **  I  remember,  in  a  letter  to  a  common  friend, 
some  remarks  on  the  necessity  and  efficacy  of 
faith  in  the  blood  of  Christ ;  and  of  his  hopes  that 
he  had  experienced  something  of  it,  which  were  in 
a  great  measure  new  to  us  both,  and  affected  me 
considerably." 


AT   CAMBRIDOB.  95 

It  is  pleasing  to  reflect,  that  the  writer  of  the 
preceding  passages,  after  having  succeeded  in  the 
attainment  of  the  highest  of  those  academical  ho- 
nors of  which  he  was  then  so  ardently  in  pursuit, 
should  at  no  distant  period  have  been  led  to  adopt 
the  religious  views  which  he  once  combated  ;  and 
after  the  lapse  of  many  years,  have  been  permit- 
ted again  to  hold  "  sweet  converse"  with  him  to 
whom  he  first  became  known  under  such  interest- 
ing circumstances,  and  to  contribute  to  do  honor  to 
his  memory  as  a  friend  and  brother. 

We  are  now  approaching  the  termination  of 
Mr.  Buchanan's  academical  course.  On  the  30th 
of  November  in  this  year  he  wrote  to  Mr.  Newton 
us  follows  : 

**  I  have  just  finished  my  mathematical  career. 
Previous  to  taking  our  degrees,  an  examination  is 
held  in  our  respective  colleges  for  the  purpose  of 
ascertaining  our  success  in  science,  and  a  prize  of 
five  guineas  awarded  to  the  best  proficient.  This 
j)rize  has  been  adjudged  to  me.  I  take  no  public 
honor  in  mathematics." 

He  was  evidently  intent  upon  an  object  which 
he  deemed  of  far  higher  importance  than  the  ho- 
nors of  the  university,  as  the  following  conclusion 
of  the  letter  sufficiently  testifies  : 

"It  is  said  that  those  who  travel  heavenwards 


96  MEMOIR   O?   Dft.    BtCHANAM* 

acquire  new  strength  from  the  toil  of  the  way  i 
Iter  instaurahit  vires.  I  wish  I  found  it  so.  I  clani' 
ber  up  hill  with  difficulty.  It  may  be  I  have  not  laid 
aside  every  weight ;  or,  perhaps,  I  have  not  used 
the  proper  *  lamp  to  my  path.'  If  so,  it  is  a 
great  happiness  that  the  weariness  of  the  way  re- 
proves me. 

"  To  .  ♦  .  .  i  I  wish  to  be  remembered,  as  to 
fellow-pilgrims,  who  in  their  journey  to  the  holy 
land  have  learned  to  sympathise  with  those  whose 
knees  are  feeble,  and  who  travel  slowly.  Perhaps 
to  some  of  them,  or  to  you,  *  the  delectable  moun- 
tains '  are  already  in  view ;  if  so,  '  the  shining 
ones '  are  at  hand,  to  conduct  you  to  the  holy  city  ; 
where,  I  hope,  ere  long,  you  will  meet 

"  Your  very  affectionate  son,      C.  B." 

In  the  month  of  May,  1795,  Mr.  Buchanan  in- 
formed Mr.  Newton,  who  was  now  anxiously  look- 
ing forward  to  his  ordination,  that  he  ^vas  to  take 
his  degree  at  the  ensuing  commencement,  that  is, 
on  the  8th  of  July,  and  that  his  ordination  studies 
would  engage  his  attention  for  the  next  two  months. 
These  anticipations  were  fulfilled  ;  and  on  the  se- 
cond week  in  September  he  wrote  to  his  excellent 
friend,  under  whose  experienced  guidance  he  was 
about  shortly  to  enter  upon  the  important  work  of 
the  ministry,  in  the  following  terms  : 

"  I  had  a  letter  from  the  Bishop's  secretary  this 


AT    CAMBRIDGE.  97 

morning.  His  lordship  approves  of  my  credentials. 
Thursday  next  is  appointed  for  the  examination, 
and  Lord's  day  following  for  the  ordination.  I 
propose  to  leave  Cambridge  on  Tuesday  evening 
by  the  mail,  which  will  be  in  town  early  next  morn- 
ing ;  and  I  shall  j^roceed  to  Fulham  without  stop- 
ping, that  I  may  have  the  remainder  of  the  day 
and  next  morning  to  myself.  So  it  is  not  probable 
that  I  shall  see  you  till  Monday  following. 

*'  I  demand  your  prayers  for  one  who  is  about  to 
enter  on  the  ministry.  Fray,  that  when  the  bishop 
lays  his  hands  upon  my  head,  I  may  devote  myself 
a  martyr  for  Him  who  hung  upon  the  cross  for  me." 

In  this  strong  and  affecting  language  did  Mr. 
Buchanan  express  the  feelings  with  which  he  was 
about  to  dedicate  himself  to  the  service  of  his  Re- 
deemer. It  is  not  often,  perhaps,  that  so  deep  an 
impression  of  the  love  of  Christ  is  felt  by  the  can- 
didate for  the  sacred  office  ;  but,  though  the  dis- 
position of  every  one  ought  to  be  similar,  the  case 
of  Mr.  Buchanan  was  doubtless  somewhat  pecu- 
liar. The  steps  by  which  he  had  been  led  to  the 
ministry  of  the  Gospel,  and  the  hints  which  had 
more  than  once  been  given  of  his  probable  em- 
ployment in  a  foreign  country,  tended  to  inspire 
him  with  the  purpose  and  the  resolution  which  he 
thus  briefly  but  forcibly  described.  It  can  scarcely 
be  doubted  that  the  diary,  in  which  he  had  been 

BucbauaQ,  «      ^ 


G8  MEMOIR   OF   DR.    BUCHANAN. 

accustomed,  from  the  year  1790,  to  record  both  the 
events  of  his  life  and  his  private  reflections,  con- 
tained a  more  detailed  account  of  his  feelings  and 
sentiments  upon  this  interesting  occasion  ;  but  the 
loss  of  that  valuable  memorial  deprives  us  of  any 
farther  particulars  respecting  it,  and  compels  us  to 
be  contented  with  the  simple  fact,  that  after  an  ex- 
amination, which  appears  to  have  been  more  than 
ordinarily  satisfactory,  Mr.  Buchanan  was  ordain- 
ed a  deacon,  on  Lord's  day,  the  20th  of  September, 
1795,  at  Fulham,  by  the  late  pious  and  excellent 
Bishop  Porteus.  Immediately  after  this  admission 
into  holy  orders,  he  entered  upon  his  engagement 
as  curate  to  Mr.  Newton,  and  continued,  during  a 
few  succeeding  months,  to  discharge  the  humble 
and  unobtrusive  duties  which  he  had  previously  so 
well  described. 

Early,  however,  in  the  year  1796,  the  friends  by 
whose  christian  kindness  and  liberality  he  had 
been  introduced  into  the  ministry,  conceiving  that 
his  talents  might  be  more  advantageously  employ- 
ed abroad,  recurred  to  the  plan  which  had  for  some 
time  been  more  or  less  in  their  view,  and  resolved 
to  endeavor  to  obtain  for  him  the  appointment  of  a 
chaplain  in  the  service  of  the  East  India  Com- 
pany. Application  was  accordingly  made  to  a  dis- 
tinguished director,  Charles  Grant,  Esq.  accompa- 
nied by  such  testimonials  as  amply  certified  the 
qualifications  of  Mr.  Buchanan  for  the  office  to 
which  he  was  recommended. 


APPOINTED    TO    INDIA.  99 

The  certifitate  of  the  President  and  Fellows  of 
Queen's  College  was  transmitted  to  Mr.  Gi  ant  by 
Dr.  Milner,  with  the  following  letter,  in  which  the 
learned  president  took  the  opportunity  of  bearing 
a  more  particular  and  decisive  testimony  to  the 
merits  of  Mr.  Buchanan  : 

"  CIueen's  Collkgk,  Cambridge,  March  8,  1796. 

"  Dear  Sir, — I  enclose  you  the  college's  testimo- 
nial of  Mr.  Buchanan's  good  behavior,  which  is 
expressed  in  general  temis  :  but  if  it  were  needful 
to  be  more  particular,  I  could  add  a  great  deal. 
In  my  judgment,  much  may  be  expected  from  his 
ability,  industry,  and  discretion.  He  has  an  un- 
common zeal  for  every  thing  that  is  praiseworthy, 
and  this  zeal  is  tempered  and  directed  by  a  sound 
and  well-informed  understandins^.  His  orood  sense 
and  attainments  must  procure  him  respect  every- 
where. He  will  be  certainly  on  the  watch  for  op- 
portunities to  do  good.  Mr.  Buchanan  obtained 
both  classical  and  mathematical  prizes  at  college. 

"  I  am,  dear  sir,  yours,  Isaac  Milnek. 

"  To  Charles  Grant,  Esq.  London." 

In  consequence  of  the  various  testimonies  to  his 
abilities  as  a  scholar,  his  attainments  as  a  divine, 
and  his  general  character  for  temperate  and  well- 
directed  zeal  for  the  honor  of  God  and  the  welfare 
of  mankind,  Mr.  Buchanan  was  appointed  one  of 


100  MEMOIR    OF   DR.    BUCHANAN. 

the  chaplains  lo  the  East  India  Company,  on  Wed- 
nesday, March  30,  1796.  When  introduced  to  the 
Court  of  Directors,  for  the  purpose  of  taking  the 
.oaths  usual  upon  similar  occasions,  he  was  address- 
ed by  the  chairman,  the  late  Sir  Stephen  Lushing- 
ton,  on  the  importance  of  his  office,  and  on  the  du- 
ties imposed  on  a  minister  of  religion  in  India ;  and 
so  lively  a  recollection  did  he  retain  of  this  unex- 
pected but  very  laudable  charge,  that  he  more  than 
once  referred  to  it  in  the  course  of  his  future  life. 
He  thus  mentions  the  address  of  the  honorable 
chairman  many  years  after  it  had  been  delivered  : 

"  The  venerable  baronet  observed,  that  French 
principles  w^ere  sapping  the  foundation  of  Chris- 
tianity and  of  social  order ;  and  he  earnestly  incul- 
cated on  me  the  duty  of  defending  and  promoting 
the  principles  of  the  christian  religion  by  every 
proper  means.  I  was  much  affected  by  the  solem- 
nity of  the  occasion,  and  by  the  energy  and  feeling 
with  which  the  address  was  delivered  :  and  the 
subject  of  the  charge  itself  made  a  great  impres- 
sion on  my  mind,  particularly  when  meditating  on 
it  afterwards,  during  my  voyage." 

Soon  after  the  appointment  of  Mr.  Buchanan  to 
India,  he  received  priest's  orders  from  the  Bishop 
of  London ;  and  in  the  month  of  May  went  down 
to  Scotland,  in  order  at  once  to  revisit  his  family 


APPOINTED    TO    INDIA.  101 

and  again  take  leave  of  tbem  previously  to  his  ap- 
proaching voyage  to  India. 

The  feelings  of  both  parties  upon  this  meeting 
were,  it  may  be  readily  imagined,  of  a  mixed  but 
very  interesting  nature.  Nearly  nine  years  had 
elapsed  since  Mr.  Buchanan,  partly  impelled  bj 
disappointed  affection,  and  partly  by  the  flattering 
visions  of  a  youthful  imagination,  had  left  his  native 
country  and  sojourned  in  a  strange  land.  During 
that  long  interval  many  remarkable  events  had  oc- 
curred. One  of  his  earthly  parents  was  no  more; 
but  he  had,  like  the  prodigal,  returned  to  his  hea- 
venly Father,  and  by  him  he  had  been  distinguished 
by  peculiar  marks  of  kindness  and  favor.  After 
having  suffered  many  external  hardships  and  much 
inward  distress,  he  had  been  relieved  in  no  ordi- 
r.ary  manner  from  both,  by  the  providence  and 
grace  of  God.  Opportunities  had  been  afforded 
him,  which  he  had  diligently  improved,  of  acquir- 
ing the  treasures  of  human  science  and  learning  ; 
and  with  a  mind  thus  richly  stored,  and  a  heart 
deeply  impressed  with  the  inestimable  value  of  the 
Gospel,  he  had  been  called  to  the  work  of  the  mi- 
nistry, and  had  now  the  prospect  of  being  permit- 
ted "  to  preach  among  the  gentiles  the  unsearch- 
able riches  of  Christ."  The  emotions  of  Mr.  Bu- 
chanan during  his  journey  to  Scotland,  under  these 
remarkable  circumstances,  must  have  been  pecu- 
liarly affecting.  While  a  "  new  song"  had  been  put 
9* 


102  MEMOIR    OF    DR.    BUCHANAN. 

into  his  mouth,  of  joy  and  thanksgiving,  it  would 
be  somewhat  damped  by  the  recollection  of  past 
sorrows,  the  pain  of  his  approaching  departure 
from  his  kindred  and  country,  and  the  anticipation 
of  future  labors  and  trials.  The  feelings  of  his  wi- 
dowed mother  and  surviving  brethren  would  be 
scarcely  less  chequered  by  joy  and  sorrow.  De- 
lighted as  they  must  have  been  by  the  return  of 
their  beloved  relative,  enriched  with  divine  and 
human  knowledge,  and  honored  by  an  appointment 
which  more  than  realized  their  highest  wishes  and 
expectations,  the  pleasure  of  their  intercourse  with 
him  would  be  not  a  little  clouded  by  the  thought 
of  its  transient  nature,  and  the  prospect  of  a  long, 
perhaps,  as  to  this  world,  a  final  separation  in  a  far 
distant  land.  Such,  we  may  justly  suppose,  were 
the  mutual  feelings  and  reflections  of  Mr.  Buchanan 
and  his  family  during  his  short  abode  with  them  at 
this  interesting  period..  He  appears  to  have  re- 
mained in  Scotland  till  the  first  week  in  June, 
when  he  returned  to  London  to  complete  the  pre- 
parations for  his  voyage.  On  the  3d  of  July  he 
preached  for  Mr.  Newton  at  St.  Mary  Woolnoth ; 
and  terminated,  by  a  pious  and  affectionate  fare- 
well, his  short  connection  with  the  congregation 
of  his  dear  and  venerable  friend. 


VOYAGK    TO    INDIA.  103 


CHAPTER   IV. 


First  four  years  in  India, 

Mr.  Buclianan  left  London  for  Portsmouth  on 
Saturday  the  30th  of  July,  and  on  the  11th  of  Au- 
gust following  embarked  on  board  the  Busbridge, 
East-Indiaman,  commanded  by  Capt.  Dobree,  and 
sailed  for  Bengal.  During  the  course  of  his  exten- 
sive voyage  he  was  diligently  employed  in  acquir- 
ing useful  knowledge,  and  in  endeavoring  to  pro- 
mote the  improvement  of  his  various  companions 
and  fellow-passengers. 

The  principal  subjects  of  his  studies  were,  pro- 
bably, such  as  bore  an  immediate  reference  to  the 
work  of  the  ministry,  and  to  his  peculiar  destina- 
tion in  India ;  but  the  only  traces  of  them  which 
now  remain,  consist  of  some  common-place  books, 
one  of  which  is  dated  at  sea,  in  January,  1797, 
near  the  island  of  St.  Paul,  containing  abridg- 
ments of  chemistry,  from  Lavoisier ;  of  botany, 
from  Rousseau  and  Martin  ;  of  the  history  of  Den- 
mark and  Sweden,  and  miscellaneous  observations, 
chiefly  of  an  historical  nature. 

Of  his  employments,  views,  and  feelings,  in  the 
early  part  of  his  voyage,  the  following  letter  to 
Mr.  Newton  presents  an  interesting  account : 


104  MEMOIR    OF    DR.    BUCHANAN. 

**  BUSBRIDGE,    EaST-Tn'DUMAN,  t 

"  At  sea,  off  the  Canaries,  Aug.  27,  1796.  J 

"  My  dear  Sir, — I  take  the  opportunity  of 
wi'iting  to  you  by  the  Polyphemus,  a  64  gun  ship, 
which,  after  convoying  us  safely  to  this  latitude, 
returns  now  to  England.  We  have  had  a  monsoon 
all  the  way.  We  took  our  departure  from  the 
Lizard,  and  in  eight  days  made  the  island  of  Ma- 
deira ;  a  shorter  passage  than  the  East-India  fleet 
has  ever  had.  In  two  days  we  hope  to  arrive  at 
the  trade-winds ;  indeed,  the  captain  thinks  we 
have  them  already.  About  the  end  of  September 
we  expect  to  reach  the  Cape,  from  which  place 
you  will  probably  hear  from  me.  I  enjoy  good 
health  on  board.  I  was  sea-sick  for  about  a  week. 
Every  body  pays  me  much  attention.  I  am  in- 
structing some  in  science,  some  in  classical  know- 
ledge, some  in  the  belles-lettres,  and  all,  I  hope, 
in  christian  truth.  I  do  not  expect  to  be  so  useful 
in  preaching  sermons  to  them  as  in  conversation. 
The  captain  supports  a  very  consistent  character. 
He  is  the  friend  of  virtue,  and  I  doubt  not  but  he 
will  continue  to  arm  my  endeavors  with  his  power. 
All  his  officers  are  in  proper  subjection  to  him, 
and  exert  their  authority  in  the  ship  in  accommo- 
dating me. 

"  We  have  more  than  a  dozen  officers  of  the 
army  going  out  as  passengers.  I  have  some  weight 
with  them ;  but  there  are  many  divisions  among 


VOYAGE    TO    INDIA.  106 

themselves.    They  have  been  challenging  already, 
and  probably  duels  may  follow. 

"  We  are  now  about  twenty  sail.  The  frigate 
L'Oiseau  accompanies  us  to  the  Cape,  and  will 
probably  carry  home  our  letters. 

"  One  day  lately  an  enemy  appeared  in  sight, 
and  we  began  to  think  of  an  engagement.  Then 
was  the  time  for  examining  myself,  and  learning 
what  was  my  object  in  a  voyage  to  India.  Indeed, 
unless  we  have  some  confidence  that  the  Lord  is 
with  us,  our  hearts  must  sink  in  despair  on  such 
occasions.  But  where  we  can  believe  that  He  is 
leading  us  out  on  his  oxen  service,  we  have  nothing 
to  fear  from  an  enemy,  or  from  the  dangers  of  the 
sea.  On  the  contrary,  the  faithful  ser\'ant  must 
rejoice  that  his  Lord  will  come  so  soon,  and  lead 
him  to  that  rest  which  he  seeks  for  in  vain  on 
earth, 

"  When  the  enemy  came  nearer  they  discover- 
ed that  we  had  a  superior  force,  and  bore  away. 
"  I  hope  Miss  C.  and  the  rest  of  your  house  are 
happy.  They  have  great  advantages,  which  I  trust 
they  improve.  They  live  in  the  house  of  peace  and 
instruction.  They,  with  you,  will,  I  hope,  shortly 
inherit  your  mansion  in  the  skies. 

"  It  is  with  me  as  I  expected.  I  feel  little  differ- 
ence in  mind,  whether  navigating  the  ocean  or 
sitting  quietly  in  Coleraan-street.  It  would  appear 
as  if  I  had  lost  all  relish  for  earthly  pleasure.    No 


106  MEMOIR    OP    DR.    BUCHANAN. 

novelty  excites  my  attention.  My  countenance  is 
acquiring  a  grave  settled  cast.  I  feel  as  if  nothing 
could  give  joy  to  my  soul  but  freedom  from  the 
body.  And  yet  being  sensible  that  I  may  remain 
long  on  duty  here,  I  often  inquire  of  myself  how 
I  am  to  pass  the  heavy  hours.  Perhaps  a  closer 
walk  with  God,  greater  activity  in  his  service,  and 
some  species  of  affliction  hitherto  unfelt,  may  at 
length  unloose  my  bonds,  and  give  me  that  en- 
joyment of  life  to  which  I  have  so  long  been  a 
stranger.  I  have  great  hopes  indeed  from  enter- 
prising a  little  in  my  Master's  service,  and  fighting 
with  courage  for  his  honor.  I  shall  write  to  you 
from  time  to  time,  and  acquaint  you  how  it  is 
with  me. 

"  It  will  be  a  remarkable  day  when  you  and  I 
meet  in  heaven.  I  dare  not  say,  Sero  redeas  ;*  be- 
cause I  trust  that  you  are  '  ready.'  I  fear  you  will 
have  learnt  many  a  song  in  heaven  before  I  come. 
But  let  me  not  despond.  What  saith  the  Scripture  1 
Ui  dies,  sic  rohii,r.\ 

"  May  you  be  preserved  in  your  old  age,  so  that 
your  Lord  may  be  glorified  in  the  ending,  as  in  the 
beginning  of  your  christian  life. 

"  Forgive  me  all  my  faults,  and  believe  me  to 
be,  my  dear  sir,  your  affectionate  son, 

••  C.  Buchanan." 

•  May  your  arrival  be  long  delayed. 
t  As  thy  day  is,  so  shall  thy  strength  be. 


AT    BARRACKPORE.  107 

On  the  ISth  of  November,  some  weeks  later 
than  he  had  expected,  the  fleet  arrived  at  the  Cape 
of  Good  Hope.  On  the  1 0th  of  December  it  again 
sailed,  and  readied  Madras  on  the  17th  of  Febru- 
ary ;  and  on  the  10th  of  March  Mr.  Buchanan 
landed  at  Calcutta,  two  days  before  the  completion 
of  the  31st  year  of  his  age. 

On  his  arrival  at  the  capital  of  the  British  pos- 
.•^essions  in  India,  he  was  hospitably  received  by  the 
Rev.  David  Brown,  and  resided  for  a  short  time  in 
his  family.  He  then  took  a  house  in  DuiTumlollah, 
where,  however,  he  continued  but  two  months, 
being  at  the  end  of  that  time  appointed  chaplain  at 
Barrackpore,  a  military  station  about  sixteen  miles 
above  Calcutta. 

By  this  arrangement,  which,  however  usual  ac- 
cording to  the  rules  of  the  East  India  service,  he 
does  not  appear  to  have  anticipated,  Mr.  Buchanan 
found  himself  placed  in  a  situation  by  no  means 
congenial  with  his  taste  and  feelings,  and  affording 
but  few  opportunities  for  the  exercise  of  his  mi- 
nistry. Barrackpore  possessed  no  place  for  public 
worship ;  and  divine  service  was  never  required 
by  the  military  staff  to  which  he  was  attached. 

This  unexpected  seclusion  from  active  duty, 
combined  with  the  influence  of  an  enervating  cli- 
mate, which  he  very  soon  began  to  feel,  and  of  so- 
ciety for  the  most  part  unfriendly  to  religion,  pro- 
duced in  Mr.  Buchanan  a  considerable  depression 


108  MEMOIR   OP   DR.    BUCHANAN'. 

of  spirits,  and  even  gave  occasion  to  some  of  his 
friends  in  Europe  to  attribute  his  comparative  in- 
activity on  his  arrival  in  India  to  abatement  of  zeal 
rather  than,  as  the  truth  required,  to  causes  over 
which  he  could  exercise  no  control. 

When   Mr.  Buchanan  arrived   at  Calcutta  Mn 
I^rown  w^as  one  of  the  two  chaplains  of  the  presi- 
dency.   He  held  also  the  chaplaincy  of  the  garri- 
son.   Some  of  Mr.  Buchanan's  friends  in  England 
conceived  that  the  latter  appointment  might  have 
been  transferred  to  him ;  or  that  he  might  have 
officiated  at  the  mission  church.  As  to  the  garrison, 
it  appears  that  motives  of  delicacy  and  kindness 
towards  Mr.  Brown,  with  whom  he  lived  from  the 
first  on  the  most  friendly  and  affectionate  terms, 
prevented  him  from  soliciting   such  an  arrange- 
ment ;  and  the  mission  church  was  then  occupied 
by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Ringeltaube,  a  clergyman  of  the 
Lutheran  church,  who  had  been  sent  to  India  un- 
der the  patronage   of  the   Society  for  promoting 
Christian  Knowledge.    No  sooner,  however,  had 
Mr.  Ringeltaube  abandoned  this  post,  as  he  shortly 
afterwards  did,   than    Mr,  Buchanan   participated 
with  Mr.  Brown  the  gratuitous  labor  of  the  mission 
church.    It  appears  also  that  he  occasionally  per- 
formed divine  service  in  his  house  at  Barrackpore  ; 
probably  as  often  as  he  could  obtain  an  audience. 
The  following  letter  will  explain  the  confidential 
nature  of  Mr.  Buchanan's   intercourse   with  Mr. 


AT   BARRACKPORE.  109 

Brown.  The  former  part  of  it  relates  to  a  proposed 
measure  respecting  an  evening  lecture  at  one  of 
the  churches  in  Calcutta,  and  to  the  chaplaincy  of 
Fort  William  :  the  latter  will  exhibit  a  most  inte- 
resting and  instructive  picture  of  the  mind  of  the 
writer,  and  will  throw  considerable  light  on  some 
of  the  preceding  observations. 

"  Barkackpore,  June  9,  1797. 

"  My  dear  Sir, — 1  have  just  received  yours.  I 
understood  your  last  very  well.  I  meant  to  say  in 
answer,  that  to  levy  a  contribution  for  the  current 
expenses  of  the  lecture  would  be  very  painful  to 
me  ;  equally  so  as  a  contribution  for  personal  sup- 
port. 

"  When  I  mentioned  my  idea  of  gratuity  for  pro- 
fessional duties,  it  was  to  explain  my  delicacy  about 
pecuniary  subscription.  I  had  no  allusion  to  the  sen- 
timents of  others.  If  I  were  in  your  situation,  it  is 
probable  that  I  should  do  as  you  do. 

"  I  think  the  justice  you  owe  your  family  in  an 
expensive  situation,  demands  that  you  be  very  well 
satisfied  with  the  propriety  of  giving  up  the  chap- 
laincy of  the  Fort,  as  long  as  it  is  agreeable  to  the 
rules  of  the  service  that  you  should  retain  it ;  and 
as  long  as  you  can  perform  the  service  it  requires 
as  well  as  any  other. 

"  Let  us  now  talk  on  the  subject  of  your  former 
letter  a  little. 

Buchanan.  J-^ 


IJO  MEMOIR    OF    DR.    BUCHANAxV. 

"  I  tliirik  you  speak  of  yourself  with  more  difli- 
(lence,  or  rather  despondency,  than  you  ought. 
How  do  you  know  that  your  Thursday  evening  lec- 
ture is  not  the  most  useful  of  all  your  ministrations  1 
And  with  respect  to  industry,  have  you  not  much 
reason  to  be  thankful,  that,  after  a  ten  years'  resi- 
dence in  this  deteriorating  country,  you  feel  your- 
self so  much  alive  to  the  ministry  of  Christ  ]  And 
is  it  not  another  reason  for  thankfulness,  that  you 
have  been  preserved  from  seeking  great  things  for 
yourself?  I  think  you  very  happy  indeed,  that  you 
have  nothing  to  do  with  this  world ;  but  that  your 
chief  work  is  to  make  proof  of  your  ministry,  as  the 
Lord  shall  prosper  it.  As  splendid  a  crown  awaits 
him  who  shall  do  a  little  in  this  country,  as  him 
Avho  shall  do  much  at  home. 

"  It  is  not  probable  that  you  or  I  shall  live  long. 
What  seek  we  then  ?  There  is  no  fame  for  us  here. 
There  is  some  reproach,  whether  we  he  faitliful  or 
not.  So  that  we  lose  nothing  by  being  faithful.  I 
am  so  young  in  these  things  that  I  do  not  know 
any  thing  about  them.  I  have  only  entered  the  wil- 
derness. But  I  apprehend  much.  I  would  gladly 
enter  Canaan  without  encountering  ^  the  greatness 
of  the  v/ay.'  Were  it  the  will  of  God,  and  were  he 
to  give  me  faith  and  strength  for  it,  I  would  to- 
7)wrTow,  with  great  joy,  leave  this  world  and  all  it 
offers.  Were  I  sure  it  would  not  entangle  and  de- 
stroy me  at  last,  I  would  rather  stay  and  endeavor 


AT    BARRACK rORE.  Ill 

to  do  soraelhing  for  God  ;  but  I  am  not  sure  of  that. 

"  I  often  compare  myself,  in  my  present  exile,  to 
John,  in  the  island  of  Patmos.  Would  that,  like 
him,  I  had  finished  my  course,  and  had  only  to  con- 
template '  the  new  heavens  !*  But  I  am  a  stranger 
to  suffering  '  for  the  word  of  God,  and  the  testimo- 
ny of  Jesus  Christ,' 

"  I  sigh  much  for  that  singleness  of  mind  and 
purity  of  heart,  and  love  to  God,  which  distinguish 
the  disciple  of  Christ.  And  I  often  wonder  whether 
it  is  to  be  effected  by  keen  affliction  in  body  and 
spirit,  or  by  the  '  power  of  the  word  of  God,  divid- 
ing asunder  like  a  two-edged  sword,'  or  by  long 
fighting  and  sorrowful  experience  slowly  teaching, 
and  endiniT  with  a  doubt  whether  I  am  tauirht. 

"  Amidst  the  multitude  of  my  thoughts,  '  the 
Lamb  that  was  slain '  is  my  only  hope  ! 

"  How  frequent  is  the  character  of  a  semi-serious 
christian  !  There  is  a  state,  in  which  some  have 
been  held  for  many  years  :  a  state,  whose  nature 
was  never  rightly  understood  by  those  around  them, 
nor  by  themselves  ;  sometimes  looking  to  the  word 
of  God,  and  sometimes  to  the  world;  sometimes 
animated  by  a  zeal  to  live  holily,  and  sometimes 
sinking  under  a  particular  sin.  From  such  a  state 
they  have  at  length  emerged ;  and  shone,  in  the 
evening  of  life,  with  a  splendor  which  has  dazzled 
all  around. 

"  I  hope  that  Mr3.  Brown  is  in  good  health  and 


112  MEMOIR    OF    DR.    BUCHANAN. 

spirits.  Buxtorf  came  safe  up  the  river.  I  am  sor- 
ry to  find  that  that  silent  critic,  the  white  ant,  has 
perused  almost  every  page. 

"  I  remain,  dear  sir,  yours  very  affectionately,. 

"  C.  Buchanan.'^ 

The  preceding  letter  scarcely  requires  a  com- 
ment. Who  can  avoid  perceiving  in  it  evident 
traces  of  a  generous,  a  spiritual,  and  a  heavenly 
mind  1  Who  can  help  lamenting  that  such  a  man 
should,  for  a  time,  have  been  placed  in  circum- 
stances so  unfavorable  to  the  attainment  of  the 
great  object  which  he  had  in  view  in  accepting  an 
appointment  in  India;  or  indulging  a  hope  that  a 
time  would  come  when  the  providence  of  God 
would  open  to  him  a  way  to  greater  exertions  and 
more  extensive  usefulness  1 

Though  Mr.  Buchanan's  retirement  at  Barrack- 
pore  did  not,  however,  admit  of  very  active  em- 
ployment in  the  duties  of  his  ministry,  it  afforded 
him  a  valuable  opportunity  for  private  study, 
which  he  diligently  and  successfully  improved. 

His  common-place  books,  at  this  period,  evince 
the  same  laudable  desire  of  increasing  his  store  of 
useful  knowledge  which  we  have  already  wit- 
nessed. Some  remarks  in  one  of  them  prove  his 
anxiety  to  fortify  himself  against  the  dangers  of 
worldly  society,  to  which  he  was  then  considera- 
bly exposed,  and  to  attain  the  important  art  of 


AT  BARRACKPORE.  113 

living  "  in  and  out  of  the  world  at  the  same  time  ;" 
of  "  using  this  world  as  not  abusing  it."  Upon 
this  point  he  quotes  a  passage  from  Mr.  Addison, 
which  appears  to  express  the  object  he  was  him- 
self endeavoring  to  attain.  "  We  shall  never  bo 
able,"  observes  that  sensible  and  elegant  writer, 
"  to  live  to  our  satisfaction  in  the  deepest  retire- 
ment, until  we  learn  to  live,  in  some  measure,  to  our 
satisfaction  amidst  the  noise  and  business  of  life." 

Other  parts  of  the  same  book  contain  reflections 
on  the  Persian  language  ;  on  the  improvement  of 
time  ;  on  the  value  of  christian  friendship;  on  pu- 
rity of  conscience  ;  on  the  propagation  of  the  Go.s- 
pel,  and  on  the  happiness  of  heaven. 

The  following  extract  of  a  letter  to  Mr.  Henry 
Thornton,  dated  the  25th  of  July,  1797,  gives  a 
pleasing  view  of  one  important  branch  of  jMr.  Bu- 
chanan's studies  at  Barrackpore  : 

"  As  the  friend  of  ray  hcghming  studies,  you  will 
naturally  be  desirous  to  know  in  what  way  they 
have  been  continued  since  my  arrival  in  India.  I 
am  now  proceeding  in  a  work  which  I  began  when 
I  last  enjoyed  retirement,  namely,  a  serious,  and,  I 
may  say,  laborious  examination  of  the  Scriptures 
in  the  original  tongues.  My  inquiries  are  not  so 
much  philological  as  practical.  The  meaning  of  the 
Holy  Spirit  in  Scripture  is  the  'one  thing  need- 
ful' for  the  student,  and  I  hope  it  will  be  tlie  sub- 
10* 


114  MEMOIR    OF    DR.    RUCHANAN\ 

ject  of  many  a  joyful  ivf»,x'jL*  to  me.  This  severity 
of  investigation  reminds  me  of  my  mathematical 
vigils.  Some  have  considered  that  interval  at  col- 
lege as  the  most  useful  era  in  the  history  of  the 
mind.  It  shows  what  powers  of  application  the 
soul  possesses  on  a  subject  it  loves  ;  even  such  ap- 
plication as  Paul  recommends  to  Timothy,  wha 
was  engaged  in  my  present  studies — iv  tstcjc  t<rBu 
'  Exist,  or  live  in  them.* 

"  This,  sir,  is  a  climate  which  tries  the  mind  like- 
a  furnace.  Deteiioration  seems  inherent  in  Indian 
existence.  Were  God  to  grant  me  a  peculiar  bless- 
ing, it  v/ould  be  the  habit  of  industry  whilst  I  re- 
main in  this  country.  I  have  observed,  in  reading 
the  lives  of  the  good,  that  the  most  eminent  were 
inen  famed  for  their  industry.  I  have  observed^ 
too,  that  few  of  them  had  to  encounter  what  Boi- 
leau  calls  the  dangerous  career  of  wit  and  genius. 
The  wisdom  of  God  is  shown  in  choosing  for  them 
that  disposition  of  mind  which  is  best  suited  to  a 
sedulous  and  bumble  perusal  of  his  eternal  word  ; 
for  genius  hath  ever  been  a  foe  to  industry. 

"  I  have  aMoonshee  in  the  house  to  instruct  me 
in  the  Hindostanee  and  Persian  languages.  Not 
knowing  what  may  be  the  purpose  of  God  con- 
cerning me,  I  have  thought  it  my  duty  to  attend 
early  to  the  languages  of  the  country,  and  to  the 

*  "  I  have  found  it  I" 


AT  BARRACKPORE.  ll^* 

constitution^  civil  and  religious,  of  the  mixed  peo' 
pic  in  it." 

Amidst  this  diligent  improvement  of  his  retire^ 
nient  at  Barrackpore,  Mr,  Buchanan,  however,  en- 
tered with  lively  interest  into  every  thing  around 
him  connected  with  real  religion,  and  embraced 
Avith  much  warmth  of  feeling  every  occasion  which 
presented  itself,  either  of  kindness  or  of  service. 

Of  this  the  following  extract  from  a  letter  to  a 
lady  at  Edinburgh,  on  the  death  of  her  son,  fs  a- 
pleasing  and  satisfactory  proof.  It  is  dated  from 
Calcutta,  December  4,  1797,  and  was  enclosed  in 
another,  in  which  she  was  kindly  requested,  before 
she  opened  it,  to  prepare  her  mind  for  intelligence 
which  would,  at  first,  deeply  affect  her,  but  which 
she  would  afterwai'ds  acknowledge  had  given  her 
such  a  theme  for  rejoicing  as  she  had  never  before 
possessed : 

"  I  had  no  thoughts  of  writing  to  you  at  this 
time  ;  but  I  have  news  for  you  from  heaven.  Your 
beloved  E.  has  'fought  the  good  fight;  he  has 
finished  his  course ;  he  has  kept  the  faith.'  His 
spirit  took  its  flight  at  12  o'clock.  About'  three 
weeks  ago  he  visited  me  at  Barrackpore,  where  he 
stayed  a  day  or  two.  He  was  then  in  good  health. 
Our  conversation  was  much  on  spiritual  subjects. 
He  told  me  his  heart  felt  the  first  powerful  impres- 


116  MEMOIR    OP    DR.    BUCHANAN. 

sion  of  religion  when  on  his  passage  to  this  coun- 
try ;  and  that  since  his  arrival  God  had  been  very 
gracious  to  him.  Finding  this  country  not  only  un- 
favorable to  health,  but  to  holiness  of  life,  he  had 
lono;  deliberated  whether  he  ought  not  to  return  to 
Europe,  and  had  at  length  resolved  to  do  so,  be- 
lieving it  to  be  the  will  of  God.  He  anticipated 
the  joy  of  conversing  with  those  amongst  his  friends 
at  Edinburgh  who  knew  the  Lord,  and  wondered 
that  he  had  not  '  made  more  of  them  '  while  among 
them.    But  he  has  now  a  better  society. 

"  Next  day  he  returned  to  Calcutta,  and  on  the 
Sabbath  following  I  went  down  to  preach.  My 
subject  was,  '  The  triumph  of  the  christian  in  be- 
ing able  to  submit  his  soul  to  the  darkest  dispen- 
sations of  God.'  On  that  day  your  son  took  the  sa- 
crament for  the  second  time  in  this  country.  On 
the  evening  of  the  same  day  the  Rev.  Mr.  Brown 
preached,  '  On  the  consolations  of  the  soul  which 
cordially  assents  to  being  justified  by  faith.'  This 
was  the  last  sermon  your  beloved  child  ever  heard  ; 
and  he  told  me  it  was  sweet  to  the  ear,  and  inex- 
pressibly rich  to  his  soul.  On  the  next  day  he  was 
taken  ill.  Our  most  able  physician  here.  Dr.  Hare, 
from  Edinburgh,  attended  him.  During  that  week 
we  had  no  aj)prehensions  of  his  fever  being  dan- 
gerous. Before  my  return  to  Bariackpore  on  Mon- 
day last,  I  passed  the  morning  with  him.  We  then 
conceived  hopes  of  his  soon  being  well.    He  sat  by 


AT   BARRACKPORE.  117 

me  on  the  sofa  for  an  hour.  We  talked  about  his 
passage  to  his  native  country  ;  for  the  ship  was 
now  ready  to  sail ;  but  I  perceived  that  his  mind 
was  dwelling  on  his  passage  to  the  lieanenly  coun- 
try. He  spoke  much  of  the  consolations  arising 
from  converse  with  God  during  sickness.  *  How 
amazing  is  it,'  said  he,  *  that  the  Lord  should  have 
called  me  to  such  knowledge  and  to  such  grace 
before  I  die  !  India  has  been  a  happy  land  to  me.' 
When  I  left  him,  he  said  he  hoped  he  should  be 
able  to  come  to  church  next  Sunday.  Not  hearing 
from  his  brother  of  his  being  worse,  I  did  not  re- 
turn to  Calcutta  till  yesterday.  In  the  evening  I 
preached,  but  did  not  see  him  in  his  usual  seat. 
When  I  called  this  morning  I  found  that  he  had 
just  entered  into  rest.  His  countenance  is  placid 
and  serene  in  death,  like  the  state  of  his  mind  be- 
fore his  dissolution. 

"  Such^  my  dear  madam,  has  been  the  happy 
death  of  your  son.  You  are  a  happy  mother,  to 
have  had  such  a  son  !  He  has  left  a  noble  testimony 
to  the  Gospel  in  this  place  ;  and  his  memory  will 
be  long  cherished  by  many.  His  brother  loved  him 
affectionately,  and  is  inconsolable  at  his  loss.  His 
conversation  and  example  have  been  of  use  to 
many.  He  preached  to  them  in  his  life,  and  he 
preached  to  them  by  his  death.  Admire  therefore 
the  dispensation  of  God  in  leading  him  to  this 
country.    It  was  not  for  evil,  but  for  much  good." 


lis  MEMOIR   OF    DR.    BUCHANAN. 

"  Tuesday,  5. — This  morning,  at  eight  o'clock,  I 
committed  to  the  earth  the  remains  of  your  dear 
son.  It  was  a  solemn  occasion.  I  was  much  affected 
at  seeing  so  many  persons  attend  it.  Most  of  them 
were  only  acquainted  with  his  character  ;  but  they 
wished  to  show  some  respect  to  the  memory  of  one 
of  those  few  who  '  wear  white  garments  in  this 
Sardis.'  The  Rev.  Mr.  Brown  was  chief  mourner ; 
but  yet  he  rejoiced  that  the  Lord  had  lent  your 
child  so  long  to  us,  and  that  now  '  he  had  taken 
him  from  the  evil  to  come.'  " 

Early  in  the  ensuing  year  he  wrote  to  Mr.  Grant 
in  the  following  terms  : 

"  Calcutta,  Feb.  6,  1798. 

"  My  dear  Sir, — I  have  now  been  near  a  year 
in  this  country,  and  have  not  yet  had  the  satisfac- 
tion of  hearing  from  you.  I  wish  to  know  what 
you  think  of  my  voyage  to  the  East.  I  seem  to 
have  come  out  under  rather  unfavorable  auspices. 
No  feature  of  my  mission  is  very  agreeable.  But  I 
view  the  whole  as  the  counsel  of  the  Almighty; 
and  I  know  that  in  his  plan  there  is  great  beauty, 
though  I  may  not  perceive  it. 

"  I  have  passed  this  last  year  in  military  society, 
or  in  solitude.  And  as  I  shall  shortly  be  station- 
ed up  the  country,  I  cannot  expect  any  material 
change  during  life.    But  if  I  rightly  improve  the 


AT    n4KKACKI>ORE.  119 

Opportunities  I  may  have,  I  shall  do  well.  What  I 
lament  most  is  the  effect  this  inactive  life  has  on 
my  mind.  You  will  not  be  surprised  if  both  my 
moral  and  intellectual  powers  suffer  by  it.  The 
climate  no  doubt  has  its  effect  in  this  hebetatiou 
of  the  soul ;  and  I  hope  I  shall  recover  from  it 
in  time. 

"  I  suflfered  a  long  struggle  before  I  could  resign 
myself  passively  to  my  unexpected  destination. 
But  the  struggle  is  now  over ;  and  I  view  myself 
as  one  who  has  run  his  race  ;  to  whom  little  more 
is  left  to  do.  I  have  known  some,  who,  in  such  a 
case,  would  have  extricated  themselves  with  vio- 
lence, and  sought  other  labors  in  the  Gospel.  But 
ijt  will  require  a  very  evident  interposition  of  God 
indeed  to  bring  me  out  of  this  Egypt,  now  that  he 
has  placed  me  in  it :  I  shall  esteem  myself  high- 
ly favored  if  I  be  enabled  to  pass  my  days  in  it 
with  a  pure  conscience,  endeavoring  to  do  a  little 
where  much  cannot  be  done. 

'■  I  take  the  liberty  of  enclosing  a  bill  for  fifty 
pounds  for  my  mother,  which  I  request  you  will  be 
BO  good  as  to  send  to  her  after  it  is  accepted. 

"  I  beg  to  be  remembered  to  all  your  family,  and 
to  Mr,  and  Mrs.  Thornton,  and  remain,  dear  sir, 

"  Yours,  with  much  respect  and  gratitude, 

"  C.    BUCHAVAN." 

Besides  the  unfavorable  inlluence  of  the  climate 


120  MEMOIR   OP   DR.   BUCHANAN. 

tiponhis  heallh,  Mr,  Buchanan  was,  doubtless,  dis* 
appointed  in  the  silence  and  obscurity  to  which  his 
station  at  Barrackpore  had  consigned  him,  and 
which  he  imagined  would  be  shortly  rendered  still 
more  hopeless  by  his  removal  to  a  greater  distance 
from  Calcutta,  in  the  interior  of  the  country.  It  is 
certain,  also,  that  he  felt  the  want  of  sympathy  and 
encouragement  from  some  of  his  friends  in  Eng-* 
land.  They  had  very  reasonably  formed  conside- 
rable expectations  of  his  exertions  to  promote  the 
cause  of  religion  in  India;  and  their  distance  from 
the  scene  prevented  them  from  being  fully  aware 
of  the  circumstances  which  had  hitherto  retarded 
them.  Yet,  amidst  it  all,  his  calm  submission  to 
what  he  believed  to  be  the  will  of  God,  his  refusal 
to  step  beyond  the  prescribed  limits  of  his  duty  as 
a  military  chaplain,  and  his  pious  reference  of  him- 
self and  his  services  to  the  divine  disposal,  prove, 
that  whatever  might  be  his  discouragements,  his 
heart  was  "  right  with  Grod,"  and  that  he  was  faith- 
fully employing  the  "  talent"  at  that  time  commit- 
ted to  his  trust. 

The  history  of  Mr.  Buchanan's  first  appointment 
in  India  will  not  be  in  vain,  if  it  serve  to  check  in 
any  who  may  be  similarly  situated,  either  abroad 
or  at  home,  the  too  natural  disposition  to  despon- 
dency or  haste  ;  and  to  lead  them,  in  the  conscien- 
tious improvement  of  present  opportunities,  to  wait 
patiently  for  farther  openings,  and  in  the  mean- 


AT    BARRACKPORr.  121 

time  to  *'  hope  in  God  ;"  and  if  it  tend  to  abate  in 
those  who  may  be  observing  them,  any  impatience 
of  their  backwardness  in  fulfilling  even  just  expec- 
tations ;  and  lo  teach  them  that  chaiity,  which,  con- 
cerning the  substantially  ])i()us  and  sincere,  "  hopeth 
all  things." 

In  July  following,  by  the  overland  despatch, 
Mr.  Buchanan  wrote  shortly  to  Mr.  Grant  to  the 
following  effect : 

"  Lord  Mornington  has  been  here  near  six  weeks. 
As  yet  he  maintains  much  dignity  in  his  govern- 
ment. He  goes  regularly  to  church,  and  professes 
a  regard  for  religion.  He  has  been  at  Bariackpore 
for  ten  days  past.  He  was  surprised  when  I  told 
him  that  we  never  had  divine  service  there,  or  at 
any  other  station.  He  was  still  more  surprised 
when  he  heard  there  were  horse-races  here  on 
Sunday  morning. 

"  The  apostolic  Obeck  is  well,  and  affectionately 
remembers  all  your  family.  He  succeeds  to  Swartz 
in  the  title  to  our  reverence  and  esteem.  Remem- 
ber me  to  Mr.  Thornton,  the  friend  of  my  studies." 

Mr.  Obeck,  thus  favorably  introduced,  and  whose 
name  frequently  occurs  in  Mr.  Buchanan's  letters, 
was  a  native  of  Germany,  for  many  years  employ- 
ed as  steward  in  Mr.  Grant's  family  during  his  re- 
sidence in  India.  The  piety  and  fidelity  of  this  good 

Buchanan.  H 


122  MEMOIR   OP   DR.    BUCHANAN. 

man  were  rewarded   by  the  liberal  support  and 
fiiendly  regard  of  his  patron  to  the  day  of  his  death. 
Under  the  same  cover  he  thus  wrote  to  Mr.  Si-' 
meon,  of  Cambridge  : 

"  I  thought  to  have  passed  my  life  near  you  ;  but, 
thus  it  is.  You  first,  I  think,  proposed  a  voyage  to 
me  ;  but  you  did  not  mean  to  consign  me  to  si- 
lence, or  to  a  camp  !  We  may  yet  see  the  wisdom 
of  God  in  showing  me  a  path  through  the  mighty 
waters.  As  my  health  returns,  my  services  may  be 
called  for. 

"  Remember  me  to  Mrs.  B.  She  alone  opposed 
my  coming  to  India.  Tell  her  not  to  triumph.  She 
has  not  seen  to  the  encV 

Three  months  after  the  despatch  just  detailed, 
Mr.  Buchanan  again  wrote  at  some  length  to  Mr. 
Newton.  In  the  former  part  of  his  letter  he  re- 
peats, with  some  additional  circumstances,  what  he 
had  before  communicated  respecting  his  situation 
and  prospects,  chiefly  with  a  view  to  convince  his 
friends  hi  England,  tnat  however  desirous  he  might 
be  of  more  effective  services  in  the  ministry,  the 
attempt  was,  at  that  time,  impracticable.  In  proof 
of  this  he  mentions,  that  before  Sir  John  Shore, 
now  Lord  Teignmouth,  left  India,  Mr.  Brown  pro- 
cured an  order  of  council  that  the  military  in  the 
garrison  should  attend  at  the  Presidency  church 


AT    DARRACKPORE.  123 

every  Sunday  morning  at  six  o'clock,  there  bcinir 
no  chapel  or  service  in  the  gariison  itself.  Strong 
opposition  was  made  to  this  order,  on  the  ground 
that  the  troops  would  suffer  in  their  health  by 
marching  in  tlie  sun.  They  attended  a  few  Sundays, 
hut  at  last  the  clamor  became  so  violent  that  the 
order  was  revoked,  and  the  triumph  over  religion 
considered  complete.  Mr.  Buchanan  states  this  cir- 
cumstance in  order  to  show  how  unavailing  any 
transfer  of  the  chaplaincy  of  the  ganison  to  him- 
self, could  it  with  propriety  have  been  effected, 
would  have  proved  as  to  the  great  object  of  his  in- 
creased usefulness.  He  adds,  however,  that  when 
he  was  in  Calcutta  on  a  Lord's  day,  he  usually 
performed  service  at  th.e  hospital ;  where,  though 
there  was  no  regular  audience,  there  was  always  a 
succession  of  hearers.  It  appears  also  by  this  letter, 
that  as  Pvlr.  Buchanan  had  no  immediate  prospect 
of  being  himself  placed  in  Calcutta,  he  was  endea- 
voring, and  with  some  success,  to  improve  the  reli- 
gious views  of  one  of  the  chaplains  of  the  Presi- 
dency, who  seemed  desirous  of  dischai-ging  his 
duty  with  fidelity. 

Mr.  Buchanan  next  adverts  to  Rev.  Dr.  Carey, 
Baptist  missionary,  of  whom  he  speaks  in  terms  of 
much  commendation.  His  own  expectations  re- 
specting the  conversion  of  the  Hindoos  were,  at 
this  period,  by  no  means  sanguine.  Of  Dr.  Carey, 
therefore,  he  remarks,  that  he  was  then  chiefly  em- 


124  MEMOIR    OP    DR.    BUCHANAN. 

ployed  ill  laying  the  foundation  of  future  useful- 
ness. ''  He  is,"  says  Mr.  Buchanan,  ''  translating 
the  Bible  into  the  Bengal  tongue.  This,  like 
Wickliff's  first  translation,  may  prove  the  father  of 
many  versions."  How  extensively  this  anticipation 
has  been  realized,  it  vi^ould  be  unnecessary  to  in- 
terrupt this  narrative  particularly  to  state. 

"  But,"  continues  Mr.  Buchanan, ''  a  rapid  spread 
of  the  Gospel  is  not  to  be  expected  in  India.  You 
have  heard  that  Mr.  Swartz  was  useful  in  the 
southern  part  of  Hindostan.  It  is  true.  But  Mr. 
sSwartz  entered  upon  the  labors  of  others.  The 
Gospel  has  been  preached  in  that  quarter  for  near 
a  hundred  years  past.  We  may  begin  here  now,  as 
the  Danes  began  there  a  century  ago.  Zeal,  and 
labor,  and  the  lapse  of  years,  will  no  doubt  produce 
the  usual  fruit.  In  the  revolution  of  this  century 
'  the  dawn^  of  the  Gospel  has  appeared  in  India. 
After  many  centuries  have  revolved,  there  may  be 
a  general  light. 

''  But  I  wish  not  that  any  prudential  considera- 
tions from  what  lias  been,  or  from  what  m^iy  proha- 
hly  be,  should  check  the  missionary  ardor  of  the 
day.  Nothing  great  since  the  beginning  of  the 
world  has  been  done,  it  is  said,  without  enthusiasm. 
I  am,  therefore,  well  pleased  to  see  multitudes  of 
serious  persons,*  big  with,  hope,  and  apt  to  com- 

*  This  probably  referred  to  the  London  Missionary  So-- 
ciety. 


AT    BARRACKPORE,  125 

municate;  fori  think  it  will  fiirtlicr  tlie  Gospel. 
Instead  of  thirty  missionaries,  I  wish  they  coukl 
transport  three  hundred.  liut  let  them  remember 
that  no  man  turned  of  thirty  can  learn  to  speak  a 
new  lanouai^e  n-dl.  No  Ene;lishman  turned  (tf 
twenty,  who  is  only  acquainted  with  the  labials 
and  dentals  of  his  mother  tongue,  can  ever  acquire 
an  easy  and  natural  use  of  the  nasals  and  gutturals 
of  the  Bengal  language. 

"  Mr.  Swartz,  the  apostle  of  the  East,  is  dead.  I 
wrote  him  a  Latin  letter  a  short  time  before  his 
death.  I  wished  to  write  his  life,  but  they  refuse 
to  send  me  materials.*  Have  you  heard  of  the  an- 
cient Obeck,  in  Calcutta'?  IMr.  Grant  will  tell  you 
about  him,  Mr.  Obeck  in  Calcutta,  is  like  Lot  in 
Sodom.  I  asked  him  one  day  if  he  could  produce 
ten  righteous  to  save  the  city  ?  He  said  he  was 
not  sure  he  could  produce  ten,  but  thought  he 
could  produce  five." 

It  cannot  be  doubted  that  both  these  excellent 
men  partook  too  largely  of  the  spirit  of  the  prophet, 
who  thought  that  he  was  the  only  true  worshipper 
of  Jehovah  in  a  corrupt  and  degenerate  age.  It  is 
at  least  certain  that  Calcutta  has  added  greatly, 

*  Some  years  afterwards  Mr.  Buchanan  procured  tlie  do- 
cuments he  at  this  time  requested;  though  other  circum- 
stances prevented  him  from  ma];in^'  use  cf  them  as  he  had 
intended, 

11* 


126  MEMOIR   OP    DR.    BUCHANAN. 

within  the  last  few  years,  to  the'  number  of  itr 
*  righteous  '  inhabitants ;  and  not  a  few  in  conse- 
quence of  the  labors  and  example  of  the  subject  of 
these  memoirs. 

"  My  last  fever,"  Mr.  Buchanan  continues,  "  pro'- 
duced  a  deafness,  which  is  not  yet  gone.  It  is  very 
inconvenient  to  me  ;  and  Dr.  Hare  says  that  it 
may  remain  a  long  time.  The  schoolmen  say,  the' 
loss  of  all  the  senses  is  death.  By  the  loss  of  hear- 
ing, I  certainly  feel  the  loss  of  the  fifth  part  of  life. 
Wlien  nature  takes  away  one  sense,  they  say,  she" 
adds  to  the  rest.  But  when  disease  takes  away  one, 
it  injures  the  rest.  At  least  I  think  so.  I  feel  that 
a  sense  of  infirmity  cows  the  mental  powers,  and 
thereby  hinders  their  exertion. 

"  When  you  see  Mr.  Thornton,  tell  him  I  often 
think  that  he  has  great  need  of  faith  to  believe  the 
Scripture,  which  says,  '  Cast  thy  bread  upon  the 
waters,  and  thou  shalt  find  it  after  many  days.^ 
Many  days  have  elapsed,  and  yet  the  bread  he 
threw  to  me  is  not  returned.    Adieu. 

"  C.  Buchanan." 

The  admirable  friend  and  patron  to  whom  Mr. 
Buchanan  thus  alludes,  was  the  reverse  of  any 
thing  impatient  or  unreasonable  in  his  expectations 
from  others  ;  and  his  habit  of  scattering  his  benefi- 
cence widely  and  liberally  was  combined  "v/ith  a 


AT  BARRACKPORE.  12'7 

Spirit  of  faith  which  could  wait  long  for  the  promis- 
ed fruit,  and  in  many  cases  be  satisfied  with  leav- 
ing his  various  work  with  God.  In  the  present  in- 
stance, however,  he  lived  to  reap,  after  ''not  many 
days,"  a  nch  reward  of  his  labor. 

In  writing  to  Mr.  Grant,  in  January,  1799,  the 
following  passage  occurs,  which,  though  brief, 
shows  both  Mr.  Buchanan's  anxiety  to  promote 
the  interests  of  religion  in  India,  and  his  lively  sa- 
tisfaction at  any  public  regulations  which  promised" 
to  be  auxiliary  to  that  important  object : 

"  I  wrote  to  Mr.  H.  Thornton  by  the  Montrose, 
on  the  Sth  instant.  In  that  letter  I  ventured  to  say 
in  what  way  you  might  probably  be  of  service  ta 
us  here.  But  you  will  be  the  best  judge  of  the  pro- 
priety of  the  measure  ;  though  perhaps  circum- 
stances have  now  a  complexion  rather  different 
from  what  they  had  when  you  left  the  country. 

"  Your  moral  regulations  of  May  last  are  come,* 
and  not  before  they  were  wanted  ;  they  have  been 
just  published,  and  are  well  received.  I  ought  not 
to  say  published.  Lord  M.'s  delicacy  induced  him 
to  communicate  them  by  circular  letter.  They 
ought  to  have  been  proclaimed  from  the  house-top." 

*  Referring  chiefly  to  a  proclamation  against  Sunday 
horse-racing,  and  to  the  erectioQ  of  chapels  at  some  of  the 
military  stations. 


128  BfEMOIR    OF    DR.    BUCHANAN. 

On  the  1st  of  February,  Mr.  Buchanan,  after  in- 
forming Mr.  Elliott  of  the  arrival  of  his  eldest  son 
in  India,  thus  intimates  the  commencement  of  the 
system  which  the  Governor  General  was  now  con- 
templating with  respect  to  the  junior  servants  of 
the  Company  : 

''  Lord  JMornington  aids  us  here.  He  no  longer 
leaves  it  at  the  option  of  the  young  men  whether 
they  will  study  or  not.  An  examination  at  the  ex- 
piration of  three  years  hence  is  to  decide  on  all 
pretensions  to  new  appointments. 

"  I  hope  you  received  the  letter  in  which  I 
expressed  a  wish  that  you  would  send  out  all  the 
periodical  works  issued  in  the  style  of  literary  re- 
views. These  are  necessary  for  me.  Without  them 
I  know  not  what  books  to  order  for  this  country.  I 
am  constantly  applied  to  by  families,  religious,  mo- 
ral, and  dissipated,  to  name  books  for  them.  I  have 
already  inundated  them  with  Barruel,  Paley,  Wat- 
son, Wilberforce,  and  the  Pursuits  of  Literature. 
I  sit  here  in  secret,  and  do  what  I  can.  A  few  of 
the  reviews  will  not  do  ;  but  all  will  tell  me  the 
truth.  Watch  the  press  for  me.  You  cannot  do  me 
a  greater  favor,  or  perhaps  your  sons  here  more 
good.  I  want  both  annual  reviews  from  17S9,  the 
era  of  the  new  philosophy  in  operation^ 

A  few  days  after  the  date  of  the  preceding  let- 
ter, he  wrote  to  one  of  his  Camhndge  frkvAn  upon 


AT    BARItACKPORE.  129 

a  variety  of  topics  connected  with  their  mutual 
pursuits,  and  interspersed  witli  remarks  on  India. 
Tiiis  letter  exhibits  the  impressive  sense  which  the 
writer  entertained  of  the  paramount  importance  of 
Christianity,  and  of  the  duty  of  active  exertions  to 
])romote  tlie  moral  and  religious  welfare  of  man- 
kind on  the  part  of  himself  and  such  men  as  the 
college  friends  to  whom  he  refers.  Many  of  his  ob- 
servations display  both  acuteness  and  elevation  of 
thouG^ht,  and  much  knowledQ;-e  of  the  world. 

"  CArxcTTA,  Feb.  4,  1799. 

After  rallying  his  friend  on  his  remaining  at 
college  instead  of  marrying,  he  expresses  himself 
thus  :  "  A  man  advances,  perhaps,  till  he  becomefi 
Bachelor  of  Arts  ;  but  after  that  he  is  retrograde 
for  ever.  Is  not  this  generally  true  ?  You  may  per- 
haps continue  to  advance  in  verbiage,  but  you  will 
go  back  in  life.  Your  endeavors  to  fulfil  the  great 
purposes  for  which  you  were  sent  into  the  world 
will  grow  daily  more  feeble,  and  your  view  of  those 
purposes  will  at  length  be  utterly  lost. 

"  But  whither  then  shall  we  go,  if  you  divorce 
us  from  our  learned  ease  ?  Why,  go  to  London. 
Take  a  curacy,  or  take  a  chapel.  Call  forth  your 
leaming  and  put  your  eloquence  to  use.  Sluice  the 
fountain  so  long  embanked  at  college  stagnant  and 
green,  and  permit  the  waters  to  rush  abroad,  to 
fertilize  many  a  plant   and  gladden  the   vale.    Go 


130  MEMOIR    OF    DR,    BUCIIANAxV. 

fortli  and  stem  the  torrent  of  infidelity  with  a  re- 
sistless eloquence  ;  and  let  rne  hear  your  voice  on 
the  banks  of  the  Granges.  To  what  purpose  have 
you  labored  at  Quinctilian,  if  you  do  not  now  lift 
up  your  voice  and  proclaim  the  glad  tidings  of  the 
everlasting  Gospel '?  At  present  I  see  you  and  D. 
lisping  with  pel^bles  in  your  mouths  on  the  banks 
of  the  Cam.  But  I  hope  one  day  to  hear  your 
thunder  from  the  rostrum.  I  hope  to  see  you  *  wield- 
ing at  will'  your  awful  assemblies,  and  exciting 
them  v/ith  a  more  than  Demosthenic  power  to  re- 
sist the  invading  foe,  the  new  philosophy.  I  hope 
to  see  you  do  more.  In  the  more  grateful  and  co- 
pious manner  of  the  Roman  orator,  you  will,  like 
scribes  well  instructed  in  the  kingdom,  bring  forth 
things  new  and  old  to  confirm  the  believing,  con- 
vince the  doubtful,  and  heal  the  wounded  spirit ; 
ever  displaying  this  your  great  and  endless  theme, 
the  power  of  grace  in  awakening  to  life  the  torpid 
soul ;  and,  in  your  previous  studies,  ever  sitting  by 
the  fountain  of  truth,  ot-«^j»  pi^a-ci  ?ru^iviy  that  'foun- 
tain flowing  with  persuasives,'  the  Bible  :  so  will 
your  orations  have  less  of  the  lamp^  and  more  of 
that  heavenly  fire  which  alone  can  make  tliem 
profitable  to  your  hearers. 

"  How  astonished  you  will  be  that  my  first  pages 
to  you  from  Milton's  '  remote  Bengala  '  should  be 
on  such  subjects  as  these  !  You,  no  doubt,  expect- 
ed to  hear 


AT    BARRACKPORE,  131 

"  Of  moving  accident  by  flood  and  field  ; 
"  And  of  the  cannil)al.s  that  each  olher  eat, 
"  The  anthropophagi ." 

*'  But  I  have  not  patience  with  all  these  subjects. 
You  must  send  out  some  of  those  fellows  who  can 
write  a  tour  through  AValcs,  or  Gogmagog  Hills. 
They  will  so  astonish  you  !  Besides,  I  am  not  writing 
to  freshmen.  I  am  writing  to  the  learned.  And  all 
the  mirahiUa^  I  could  describe  to  you  are  already 
described  in  Queen's  College  library.  But  I  must 
make  some  allowance  for  the  different  eifects  of  an 
absolute  and  a  partial  view  of  tinners.  The  truth  \?, 
that  the  traveller  who  sees  new  things  every  day, 
sees  new  things  with  indifference.  The  passion  of 
curiosity  is  so  constantly  excited  that  it  loses  its 
power.  The  '  nil  admirari  'f  seizes  us  much  sooner 
with  respect  to  objects  of  sense  than  objects  of  re- 
flection. J3eside?,  where  all  is  new,  the  mind  knows 
not  where  to  rest.  It  cannot  embrace  all,  and  it 
studies  none.  This  is  particularly  the  case  with 
many  young  men  just  arrived  in  India.  They  are 
wonder-struck ;  they  suffer  a  kind  of  mental  pa- 
roxysm ;  they  ask  questions  for  a  while ;  but  they 
find  there  is  no  end  of  subjects  of  wonder ;  and  at 
length  they  arc  tired  with  wondering.  The  man  of 
reflection  will  examine  these  subjects  at  his  lei- 

*  Wonders. 

t  JN'olhing  more  to  be  adiriired. 


130  MEMOIR    OF    DK.    BUCHANAN. 

sure,  but  the  0/  jrowoi*  would  no  longer  wonder,  if 
the  moon  were  to  fall ;  they  would  suppose  it  was 
the  way  with  the  Bengal  moons. 

'*  The  most  useful  lesson  I  have  learnt  from  tra- 
vel is,  that  the  world,  or  all  that  is  in  it,  cannot  sa- 
tisfy the  soul  of  man.  Many  years  ago,  my  chief 
ambition,  as  you  know,  was  to  make  the  tour  of 
Europe,  But  how  liUle  does  this  idea  appear  !  As 
a  village  is  the  world  to  a  child,  so  Europe  was  the 
world  to  me.  But  Europe  is  now  become  a  village ; 
and  the  globe  itself,  which  seems  to  have  revolved 
under  my  eye,  has  no  longer  its  former  extent,  no- 
velty, or  importance.  My  ambition  seeks  now  to 
explore  new  worlds.  And  were  the  Deity  to  gratify 
my  wish,  and  permit  me  to  traverse  the  planetary 
globes  around  us,  yet  how  circumscribed  would  be 
my  view,  how  limited  my  knowledge  !  The  solar 
system  is  but  a  point  in  the  universe  !  What  then 
is  natural  knowledge  '{  Like  space,  it  has  no  limit. 
Let  us  return  then  to  our  village,  and  view  its  in- 
habitant ; 

His  knowledge  suited  to  his  state  and  place, 
His  time,  a  nioment;  and  a  point,  his  space. 

And  this  is  equally  true,  whether  you  live  but  a 
few  years,  confined  to  your  native  spot,  or  live 
three  ages,  and  traverse  the  world  around.  /■ 

♦  The  niuhitude. 


AT    D-MIRACKPORE.  133 

"  This  thought  casts  a  trarisient  gloom  over  sci- 
ence and  all  human  knowledge.  It  is  confined  and 
uncertain,  and  therefore  unsatisfying.  It  is  now 
that  the  mind  turns  with  pleasure  from  the  works 
of  God  to  his  word.  The  works  of  God  indeed  de- 
clare his  glory  ;  but  the  mind  cannot  comprehend 
them,  nor  be  satisfied  with  surveying  them.  But 
the  word  of  God  quenches  the  thirst.  It  is  that 
fountain  which  can  alone  satisfy  the  capacious  soul 
of  man. 

"  Infidelity  raged  here  with  great  violence  for- 
merly, but  it  is  rather  on  the  d(fcnsive  now.  It  was 
fashionable  for  a  time  to  allege  that  oriental  re- 
search was  not  favorable  to  the  truth  of  Christiani- 
ty ;  but  the  contrary  is  found  to  be  the  case.  As  far 
as  my  own  inquiries  have  gone  I  can  truly  say,  '  I 
have  seen  the  star,  and  worshipped  in  the  East.'  In 
the  study  of  eastern  history  and  learning  there  is 
endless  proof  of  the  truth  of  both  the  Old  and  New 
Testaments. 

"  I  suppose  you  have  heard  of  the  grandeur  of 
English  life  in  India.  To  live  in  the  first  circle  in 
India  is  to  live  at  court.  There  is  nearly  the  same 
dignity  of  etiquette,  elegance  of  equipage,  and  va- 
riety of  entertainment.  Every  lady  is  handed  to 
table  according  to  her  rank  ;  and — no  grace  is  said  ! 

'*  What  chiefly  astonishes  an  Englishman  (I 
should  have  said  a  Scotchman)  is  the  profusion  of 
meat  on  the  tables.   We  sit  down  to  hecatombaean 

Buchnnaa,  A* 


134  MEMOIR    OP    DR.    BUCHANAN. 

feasts.  But  you  will  not  wonder  at  this,  when  you 
hear  that  the  price  of  a  sheep  is  but  half  a  crown* 
We  have  no  drinJdng  here  ;  no  bacchanalian  feasts. 
"Wine  is  a  drug.  AVherever  we  go,  we  expect  to 
find  plenty  of  claret  and  Madeira;  and  he  who 
would  think  it  a  compliment  to  urge  another  to 
drink,  would  be  accounted  a  vulgar  fellow,  just  im- 
ported from  a  military  mess-room,  or  a  literary 
combination-room. 

"  Must  I  say  something  of  the  natives  ]  Their 
general  character  is  imbecility  of  body,  and  imbe- 
cility of  mind.  Their  moral  powers  are  and  have 
been  for  ages  in  a  profound  stupor ;  and  there  is 
seldom  an  instance  of  their  being  awakened.  A 
partial  attempt,  or  rather  experiment,  is  now  mak- 
ing on  them  by  some  christian  teachers.  The  Hin- 
doo mind  seems  at  present  to  be  bound  by  a  satanic 
spell ;  and  it  v/ill  require  the  co-operation  of  a  more 
than  human  power  to  break  it.  But  divine  co-ope- 
i-ation  implies  human  endeavor.  Many  ages  must 
then  elapse  before  the  conversion  of  India  is  ac- 
complished. 

"  With  respect  to  moral  action,  the  Hindoos  pay 
as  little  attention  to  their  own  religion  as  a  rule  of 
life,  as  the  English  do  to  theirs  !  Your  profession 
of  the  christian  religion  is  a  proverbial  jest  through- 
out the  world. 

"  The  Hindoo  is  born  blind  ;  but  you  put  out 
your  own  eyes.    Loose  piinciples  and  sensual  in- 


AT    BARKACKPORE.  135 

diligence  first  dim  them,  and  then  the  '  drop  serene* 
of  the  new  philosophy  quenches  the  orb. 

"  A  residence  in  this  country  adds  much  to  the 
personal  dignity  of  the  European.  Here  the  labor 
of  a  multitude  is  demanded  for  the  comfort  of  one  : 
and  it  is  not  so  much  demanded  as  voluntarily 
given.  In  no  other  country  can  we  so  well  see  the 
homage  which  matter  gives  to  mind.  Generally, 
however,  it  is  but  the  homage  which  black  pays  to 
white.  This  is  the  grand  argument  for  keeping  the 
Hindoos  in  a  state  of  mental  depression.  The  hy- 
perborean Scotchman,  broiling  under  a  perpendi- 
cular sun,  needs  some  leramina  labor um  ;*  and  the 
state  of  the  Hindoo  minds  is  admirably  calculated 
to  take  care  of  our  bodies. 

"  You  know  the  character  of  the  Hindoo  super- 
stition. It  is  lascivious  and  bloody.  I  know  n-o  epi- 
thet that  embraces  so  much  of  it  as  either  of  these 
two.  Of  the  first  I  shall  say  nothing :  I  shall  not 
pollute  the  page  with  a  description  of  their  caprine 
orgies  in  the  interior  of  their  temples,  nor  the  em- 
blems engraved  on  the  exterior. 

"  Their  scenes  of  blood  are  not  less  revolting 
to  the  human  mind.  Human  sacrifice  is  not  quite 
abolished.  The  burning  of  women  is  common  ;  1 
have  witnessed  it  more  than  once. 

"  This  power  of  self-sacrifice  is  given  thera  from 

♦  Relaxation. 


136  MEMOIR    OF    Oli.    nUCHANAN'. 

insensibility  of  mind,  and  from  that  alone.  Just  as 
a  child  may  be  persuaded  to  plunge  into  danger 
which  infant  reason  cannot  see,  so  the  Hindoo,  of 
childish  capacity,  is  persuaded  to  destroy  his  exist- 
ence ;  he  views  neither  death  nor  life  in  their 
true  light. 

"  All  comparison,  therefore,  between  the  forti- 
tude of  the  christian  martyr  and  the  madness  of 
the  Hindoo  is  nugatory  and  absurd." 

Some  hints  in  the  preceding  letter  respecting 
marriage,  imply  that  Mr.  Buchanan  was  not,  at 
this  time,  indifferent  to  that  subject.  He  had  hith- 
erto been  too  much  occupied  with  study,  and  with 
his  entrance  upon  his  professional  career,  to  in- 
dulge any  thoughts  respecting  it ;  but  his  affection- 
ate and  social  disposition,  and  the  comparative  so- 
litude in  which  he  was  compelled  to  live,  convinced 
him  of  the  expediency  of  entering  into  the  married 
state.  This  important  change  in  his  condition  took 
place  on  the  3d  of  April,  1799,  on  which  day  Mr. 
Buchanan  married  Miss  Mary  Whish,  third  daugh- 
ter of  the  Rev.  Richard  Whish,  then  rector  of 
!^orthvvold,  in  Norfolk. 

Upon  this  interesting  event  it  may  be  best  to 
allow  Mr.  Buchanan  to  speak,  as  usual,  for  himself. 
He  thus  writes  to  Mr.  Newton  about  two  months 
after  his  marriage  : 

"  Miss  Majy  V/hish  and  her  elder  sister  (after- 


AT  BARRACKrORE.  137 

^vards  married  ta  Major  Pnole)  came  ont  to  India 
about  five  months  ago  with  their  aunt,  Mrs.  San- 
dys, wife  of  Captain  Sandys,  Commissary  of  stores 
in  Calcutta.  The  younger  of  these  ladies  was  so 
much  disgusted  with  the  dissipation  of  India,  that 
she  would  gladly  have  returned  single  to  England. 
I  did  not  see  her  till  two  months  after  her  arrivaL 
But  we  had  not  lx?en  loag  acquainted  before  she 
confessed  that  she  had  found  a  friend  who  could 
reconcile  lier  to  India.  I  did  not  expect  that  I 
should  have  ever  found  in  this  country  a  young 
woman  whom  I  could  so  much  approve.  Mrs.  Bu- 
chanan is  not  yet  nineteen.  She  has  had  a  very 
proper  education  for  my  wife.  She  has  docility  of 
disposition,  sweetness  of  temper,,  and  a  strong  pas- 
sion for  retired  life. 

"  She  is  religious,  as  far  as  her  knowledge  goes  ;; 
and  her  knowledge  is  as  great  as,  I  suppose,  yours 
or  mine  was  at  her  age.  Our  marriage  was  sanc- 
tioned by  the  approbation  of  all  who  knew  her  and 
who  knew  me. 

"  I  have  now  been  married  two  months,  and 
every  successive  day  adds  something  to  confirm  the 
felicity  of  my  choice,  and  the  goodness  of  God  in, 
directing  it. 

"  Mrs.  Buchanan  has  read  many  of  your  letters  to 
me,  and  hopes  you  will  mention  her  name  in  your 
next.  She  is  now  reading  the  '  Christian  Character 
12* 


I3»  JfEMOin    OF    DR.    BUCHANAN. 

Exemplified,'  published  by  you,  and  aspires  to  the 
spirit  and  piety  of  the  lady  whose  character  it  is. 
"  I  still  reside  at-Barrackpore,  where  it  is  now 
probable  I  shall  remain  some  years.  But  I  must 
take  no  thought  for  to-morrow.  Years,  days,  and- 
hours  are  not  mine.  Moments,  how  sacred  !" 

In  replying  to  some  inquiries  of  his  correspond- 
ent, Mr.  Buchanan  proceeds  to  mention,  what,  in 
the  prospect  of  continuing  at  Barrackpore,  must 
have  been  peculiarly  painful  to  him,  that  it  was 
thought  no  chapel  would  be  built  there,  under  the 
new  arrangement  relative  to  that  subject,  as  no 
European  regiment  was,  at  any  time,  ordered  to- 
that  station.  Under  these  circumstances  he  men- 
tions that  he  was  anxious  to  take  every  opportu- 
nity of  assisting  Mr.  Brown  at  Calcutta. 

"  You  will  have  heard,  by  this  time,"  he  con- 
tinues, "  the  fate  of  the  expedition  to  Otaheite. 
The  missionaries,  banished  by  the  natives,  fled  tO' 
Botany  Bay.  One  of  them,  I  hear,  is  lately  arrived 
in  Calcutta,  from  Port  Jackson.  I  hope  this  South- 
sea  scheme  will  not  discourage  the  missionary  so- 
cieties. They  have  done  no  harm  :  and  if  they 
send  out  their  next  mission  with  less  carnal  eclat, 
and  more  Moravian  diffidence,  they  may,  perhaps, 
do  some  good.  Their  chief  fault  was  in  the  selec- 
tion of  the  men. 


AT  BARRACKPORE.  139 

"  Lord  Morningtoii  is  taking  measures  to  send 
home  all  Frenchmen  and  republicans.  I  was  ap- 
plied to  lately,  in  a  kind  of  official  way,  to  give 
some  account  of  the  Baptist  missionaries.  It  was 
asked,  What  was  their  object  ]  How  supported  'i 
Whether  they  were  not  of  republican  principles  ? 
As  I  had  some  good  data  for  speaking  favorably 
of  Mr.  Carey,  I  confined  myself  to  him.  I  stated 
the  origin  of  the  Tranquebar  mission,  and  its  suc- 
cess under  Swartz,  and  I  represented  Carey  as  en- 
deavoring to  do  in  Bengal,  what  Swartz  did  in  the 
Deccan.  He  called  upon  me  lately  in  his  way  to 
Calcutta.  He  considers  himself  as  sowing  a  seed 
which  haply  may  grow  up  and  bear  fruit.  He  is 
prosecuting  his  translation  of  the  Scriptures.  This 
is  a  good  work.  It  will  be  useful  to  those  Hindoos 
who  are  somewhat  influenced  by  christian  instruc- 
tion, and  particularly  useful  to  Hindoo  children 
biought  up  in  christian  schools.  1  told  Mr.  Carey 
that  I  thought  he  could  not  emph^y  his  time  better 
than  in  translating  the  Scriptures.  I  explained  to 
him,  from  sources  with  which  he  seemed  unac- 
quainted, the  plan  and  progress  of  the  Tamulian 
Scriptures,  and  the  circumstances  attending  the 
publication. 

"  And  now,  my  dear  sir,  pray  for  us.  Under  my 
Mary's  care,  I  improve  in  health  and  spirits." 

In  the  autumn  of  this  year  Mr.  Buchanan  in- 


140  MEMOm    OF   DR.    BUCHANAN. 

formed  Mr.  Grant  that  he  had  been  recommended 
to  accept  a  vacant  chaplaincy  at  Bombay.  ''  Being 
altogether  ignomnt,"  says  he,  "of  the  particulars,. 
I  wrote  to  Mr.  Fawcett,  the  accountant  general 
there,  (who  v/ishes  me  to  go,)  to  explain  fully  to  me 
the  nature  of  the  situation.  If  it  be  the  chaplaincy 
to  the  Presidency,  I  shall  accept  it."  He  adds  :. 
"  There  is  to  be  a  relief  of  staff  this  ensuing  Novem- 
ber. "Whether  I  shall  be  included  in  it,  I  know  not." 
It  is  probable  that  Mr.  Buchanan's  inquiry  re- 
specting the  chaplaincy  at  Bombay  proved  unsatis- 
factory. However  this  may  have  been,  the  provi- 
dence of  God  shortly  afterwards  introduced  him; 
to  a  sphere  of  labor  in  Calcutta  which  was  equally 
adapted  to  his  talents  and  his  wishes.-  Towards 
the  close  of  the  year  Lord  Mornington  appointed' 
him  a  third  chaplain  to  the  Presidency,  and  he  im- 
mediately entered  upon  the  duties^  of  that  office. 

One  of  the  earliest  occasions  of  public  service  to- 
which  Mr.  Buchanan  was  called  after  this  appoint- 
ment, was  in  February,  ISOOj  when  he  preached 
a  sermon  at  the  new  church,  before  Lord  Morn- 
ington and  the  principal  officers  of  the  government^ 
on  a  day  appointed  for  "  a  general  thanksgiving 
for  the  late  signal  successes  obtained  by  the  naval 
and  military  forces  of  his  Majesty  and  of  his  allies  ; 
and  for  the  ultimate  and  happy  establishment  of 
the  tranquillity  and  security  of  the  British  posses- 
sions in  India.^^ 


AT    CALCUTTA.  141 

This  sermori  was  so  highly  approved  that  Mr. 
Buchanan  received  the  thanks  of  the  Governor  Ge- 
neral in  council,  with  a  direction  that  it  should  be 
printed  ;  and  it  was  undoubtedly  a  production  which 
well  deserved  that  honor.  It  was  founded  on  the 
11th  verse  of  the  2Jst  Psalm  :  "  For  they  intended 
mischief  against  Tiiee  ;  and  imagined  such  a  de- 
vice, as  they  are  not  able  to  perform  :"  and  con- 
tains a  luminous  and  impressive  view  of  the  prin- 
ciples, progress,  and  effects  of  the  new  French  phi- 
losophy, to  which  Mr.  Buchanan  justly  attributed 
the  awful  struggle  in  which  this  country  was  then 
engaged.  The  following  j)assages  from  this  dis- 
course show  the  ability  and  judgment,  as  well  as 
the  piety  of  its  author : 

"  The  contest  in  which  our  country  has' been  so 
long  engaged  has,  in  one  particular,  been  of  essen- 
tial service  to  her.  It  has  excited  a  greater  respect 
for  christian  institutions  and  christian  principles* 
A  long  period  of  internal  tranquillity  and  security 
had  induced  an  indifference  about  religion  which 
was  rapidly  gaining  ground,  and  was  making  room 
for  that  infidelity  which  our  enemies  wished  to  sub- 
stitute. But  the  critical  situation  in  which  the  na- 
tion was  placed,  and  the  dangers  that  threatened 
her,  led  men  to  review  their  principles,  and  to  con- 
sider seriously  by  what  means  she  might  be  saved. 
Hence  there  is  now  a  growing  regard  for  christian 


142  MEMOIR   OF    DK.    BUCIIANA??. 

ordinances.  Tliere  Is  now  a  more  general  acknow- 
ledgment of  the  providence  of  God  ;  more  attention 
is  paid  to  moral  character ;  more  care  is  taken  in 
forming  the  minds  of  youth  ;  and  more  ample  means 
of  instruction  are  afforded  to  the  common  people.. 

"  In  tlie  anxiety  that  prevails  in  the  mother- 
country  about  the  principles  of  all  who  are  con- 
nected with  her,  she  will  naturally  be  interested  to 
know  what  is  the  state  of  religion  amongst  lis, 
'  How/  she  will  ask,  '  amidst  all  this  revolution  of 
opinion  and  practice  which  agitates  the  world,  is 
that  distant  society  affected  ?  Are  they  altogether 
free  from  infidel  principles  %  And  does  the  public 
spirit  of  the  people  show  itself  in  combating  these 
principles,  and  in  maintaining  a  respect  for  chris- 
tian institutions  V 

''  However  this  subject  might  have  been  over- 
looked in  the  infancy  of  our  settlements,  it  becomes^ 
now  a  matter  of  public  consequence.  The  import- 
ance we  are  daily  acquiring  in  the  eyes  of  the 
world,  and  the  destructive  effects  of  irreligion  in 
other  countries,  make  it  proper  that  we  should 
show  that  we  yet  profess  the  faith  of  our  country, 
and  that  we  are  yet  willing  to  be  accounted  a  chris- 
tian community. 

"  On  this  subject  we  think  there  can  be  but  one 
sentiment.  Men  of  sense  and  of  responsible  situa- 
tion, who  love  their  country,  and  who  know  the 
danger  of  the  new  principles,  will  not,  we  are  per- 


At  CALCUTTA.  143 

Suaded,  be  averse  to  sliow  this  countenance  to  the 
christian  religion.  Such  example  is  of  the  more 
consequence,  on  account  of  the  great  number  of 
young  persons  who  are  yearly  added  to  our  socie- 
ty. These  persons  are  denied  those  opportunities 
of  instruction  they  enjoyed  at  home  ;  and  they  ar- 
rive at  so  early  au  age,  that,  in  general,  their  prin- 
ciples are  formed  and  fixed  hert.  And  when  it  is 
considered  that  they  are  hereafter  to  fill  the  offices 
in  the  govei'nment  of  the  country,  and  are  to  be 
themselves  the  guardians  of  the  public  principles, 
it  will  certainly  appear  of  consequence  that  their 
minds  should  be  impressed  with  a  respect  for  those 
religious  and  moral  observances  on  which  the  fu- 
ture safety  and  happiness  of  the  country  depend. 

"  Scepticism  and  infidelity  are  not  now  so  well 
received  in  society  as  they  once  were.  It  was  for- 
merly thought  a  mark  of  superior  understanding  to 
})rofess  infidelity.  It  was  thought  a  proof  of  some 
learning  to  think  differently  from  others  on  reli- 
gious subjects. 

"  Eut  we  have  now  seen,  that  the  most  illiterate 
and  most  abandoned  of  the  human  race  can  be 
infidels. 

"  We  have  also  seen,  that  there  is  no  supersti- 
tion more  irrational  in  its  effects,  no  fanaticism 
more  degrading  to  the  human  mind,  than  the  fana- 
ticism of  infidelity. 

"  We  have  further  seen  the  moral  effects  of  in* 


144  MEMOIR   OP    DR.    BUCHANAN, 

fidelity ;  effects  flowing  directly  from  it,  acknow- 
ledging no  other  source.  And  after  what  we  have 
seen  of  these  effects,  we  think  no  man  can  add  to 
his  respectability  in  society,  either  for  understand- 
ing or  for  moral  character,  by  avowing  himself  to 
be  an  advocate  for  infidelity. 

"  But  we  trust  that  the  great  body  of  our  socie- 
ty is  yet  animated  by  christian  principles,  and  that 
they  are  ready  to  make  common  cause  with  their 
country  in  defending  these  principles  to  the  utter- 
most, 

"  Some  will  doubt,  and  some  will  disbelieve,  but 
it  is  an  eternal  truth,  that  the  christian  religion  is 
the  rock  on  which  rests  our  existence  as  a  civilizecj 
nation ;  on  which  rest  our  social  blessings,  and  our 
individual  happiness.  Take  away  this  rock,  and 
you  give  your  country  to  convulsion  and  endies:? 
disgrace.  Built  on  this  rock,  she  has  withstood  the 
violence  of  the  storms  that  have  so  long  assailed 
her.  Secure  and  tranquil  in  the  midst  of  the  tem- 
pest, she  stands  at  this  hour  firm  and  impregnable, 
while  those  w-ho  built  on  the  '  sands  of  infidelity  * 
have  been  overthrown." 

Copies  of  Mr.  Buchanan's  thanksgiving  sermon 
were  distributed  by  order  of  goveirnment  in  every 
part  of  British  India,  and  sent  home  to  the  direc- 
tors of  the  East  India  Company. 

^*  You  may  easily  conceive,"  says  Mr.  Buchanan, 


AT  CALCUTTA.  145 

writing-  to  a  friend  in  England,  well  acquainted 
with  the  prevalence  of  sceptical  piinciples  at  tliat 
period  in  India,  "the  astonisluTient  of  men  at  these 
religious  proceedings.  However,  all  was  silence 
and  decei!t  ac(juiescence.  It  became  fashionable  to 
say  that  religion  was  a  very  proper  thing,  that  no 
civilized  state  could  subsist  without  it;  and  it  was 
reckoned  much  tlie  same  thing  to  piaise  the  French 
as  to  praise  inlidelity." 

The  importance  of  this  public  recognition  of 
Christianity  as  the  only  basis  of  civil  prosperity, 
was  soon  perceived  in  the  increasing  attention  to 
personal  religion  : 

"  Our  christian  society,"  adds  Mr.  Buchanan  to 
the  same  friend,  "  flourishes.  Merit  is  patronized, 
immoral  characters  are  marked  ;  and  young  men  of 
good  inclinations  have  the  best  opportunities  of  im- 
provement." 

The  same  happy  effects  were  thus  distinctly  sta- 
ted by  Mr.  Brown,  in  a  memorial  on  the  general 
state  of  society  in  Calcutta,  drawn  up  some  years 
afterwards  for  the  information  of  the  Society  for 
promoting  Christian  Knowledge. 

"  These  solemn  acts,"  observes  that  excellent 
man,  "  and  the  public  thanksoivings,  which  took 
place  for  the  fust  time  under  Marquis  Wellesley's 

*> 


146  MEMOIR    OF*    DR.    BUCHANAN. 

government,  awakened  a  religious  sense  of  thing?! 
in  many  ;  and  led  to  an  open  and  general  acknow- 
ledgment of  the  divine  providence,  which  has  been 
highly  beneficial  to  the  interests  of  true  religion 
and  virtue." 

On  Mr.  Buchanan's  removal  to  Calcutta^  he  thus 
resumed  the  account  of  his  studies  and  proceed- 
ings, in  a  letter  to  Mr,  Henry  Thornton  : 

''  The  plan  of  study  I  formed  about  two  years 
and  a  half  ago  has  not  suffered  any  material  altera- 
tion since.  I  soon,  however,  discovered  the  small 
value  of  the  Persian  and  Hindostanee  languages  to 
me,  and  was  contented  with  a  superficial  acquaint- 
ance with  them.  My  scriptural  studies  I  pursue 
with  my  first  purpose,  and  I  hope  I  shall  continue 
to  pursue  them  to  the  day  of  my  death.  My  gene- 
ral studies  have  been  much  diversified  by  corres- 
pondence in  different  parts  of  India,  on  subjects 
classical,  mathematical,  and  theological.  The  latter 
has  been  the  most  laborious  and  generally  the  most 
pleasant.  This  subject  is  often  forced  upon  me. 
But  I  have  seldom  permitted  myself  to  defend 
Christianity.  1  have  usually  acted  on  the  offensive, 
and  attacked  infidelity.  This  is  a  very  unpleasant 
mode  to  the  infidel.  During  the  last  year  I  received 
many  anonymous  letters,  particularly  from  young 
persons,  on  polemical  divinity  ;  but  the  correspond- 


AT  CALCUTTA.  147 

ence  has  generally  ended  in  real  names.  In  conse- 
quence, I  am  often  applied  to  for  books,  and  have 
expended  much  in  purchasing  valuable  works  at 
our  dear  market.  Small  religious  tracts  are  of  little 
service  to  those  with  whom  I  have  to  do. 

"  My  public  ministrations  have  been  rare,  but 
perhaps  not  so  rare  as  from  my  situation  might  be 
expected.  Of  the  three  years  I  have  been  in  India, 
including  the  number  of  times  I  have  officiated  at 
the  hospital  in  Calcutta,  and  in  ray  own  house  at 
Barrackpore,  I  have  preached  on  an  average  once 
a  fortnight. 

'*  My  great  affliction  since  I  came  to  India  has 
been  had  health.  I  feel  a  languor  of  constitution, 
and  a  difficulty  of  respiration,  which  no  medical 
aid  has  yet  been  able  to  remove.  This  I  sometimes 
think  has  taken  away  one-half  of  the  energy  and 
usefulness  I  might  have  preserved  or  acquired  in  a 
cooler  region.  But  this  also  is  the  dispensation  of 
God  ;  and  it  has  added  to  me  that,  which  else- 
where I  might  not  have  found." 

In  a  letter,  however,  to  Mr.  Newton,  about  the 
same  time,  Mr.  Buchanan  observes,  "  I  have  en- 
joyed better  health  this  year  than  in  any  former ; 
and  I  trust  that  I  shall  be  strengthened  and  spared 
for  some  service." 

During  the  first  six  months  of  the  year  ISOO,  the 
plan  of  a  collegiate  institution  had  been  formed  by 


148  MEMOIR    OF    DR.    BUCHANAN. 

Lord  Mornington,  (who,  in  consequence  of  the 
splendid  successes  of  liis  policy  in  the  Mysore,  had 
been  created  Marquis  Wellesley,)  for  the  purpose 
of  promoting  the  literary  improvement  of  the 
you!)ger  civil  servants  of  the  Company.  This  im- 
portant measure,  in  the  arrangement  and  conduct 
of  which  Mr.  Buchanan  was  so  essentially  concern- 
ed, he  thus  mentioned  in  the  month  of  June,  in  a 
letter  to  Mr.  Grant : 

*'  Lord  Wellesley  is  at  present  engaged  in  foand- 
ino-  a  coUeofe  for  the  instruction  of  the  young:  civil 
servants  in  eastern  literature  and  general  learning. 
He  desired  me  to  draw  out  a  sketch  of  the  consti- 
tution of  the  college,  which  I  did.  And  now  Mr. 
Barlow  has  instructed  me  to  draw  up  a  minute  as 
a  justification  of  the  measure.  Lord  Wellesley 
proposes  that  Mr.  Brown  should  be  the  provost  of 
the  college  ;  and  he  is  certainly  the  fittest  man  in 
Calcutta  for  that  office.  I  had  him  in  my  mind 
when  drawing  up  the  duties  of  provost.  There 
will  be  about  eight  or  ten  professors.  No  promo- 
tion in  the  service,  but  through  the  medium  of  this 
institution.  The  students  to  remain  at  college  for 
three  or  five  years.  Prizes  and  honors  to  be  propos- 
ed for  those  who  distinguish  themselves,  and  de- 
grees to  be  taken  to  qualify  for  certain  offices." 

Some  allusion  is  made  to  the  subject  introduced 


AT    CALCUTTA.  149 

in  the  preceding  extract,  in  the  two  following  let- 
ters from  Mrs.  Buchanan,  which,  as  they  exhibit  a 
pleasing  and  faithful  picture  of  a  most  amiable 
woman  very  early  removed  from  this  world,  it  may 
not  be  uninteresting  to  insert  before  we  proceed 
to  a  more  enlarged  view  of  the  college  of  Fort 
William,  or  Calcutta. 

The  first  is  addressed  to  Mr.  Newton,  and  is  da- 
ted Calcutta,  June  24,  ISOO  : 

"  Dear  Sir, — Mr.  Buchanan  assures  me  that 
you  will  excuse  the  liberty  I  take  in  writing  to  you. 
I  have  long  wished  to  acknowledge  the  debt  I  owe 
you  for  your  valuable  works.  They  have  been 
blessed  to  many,  and  I  trust  will  be  also  blessed  to 
me.  But  I  believe  I  am  still  more  indebted  to  you 
as  the  friend,  father,  and  instructer  of  my  beloved 
husband ;  as  such,  I  must  consider  you  as  the  in- 
strument, under  God,  of  my  present  happiness. 

"  You  will  be  glad  to  hear  that  Mr.  B.'s  health 
is  of  late  much  improved  ;  but  I  am  alarmed  lest 
his  approaching  labors  should  be  too  much  for  him. 
We  have  reason  to  believe  that  he  will  be  appoint- 
ed a  professor  in  the  new  college.  He  himself 
wishes  to  decline  it,  but  his  friends  do  not  see  how 
it  is  possible,  as  he  has  taken  an  active  part  in  the 
institution.  It  is  supposed  that  he  may  have  his 
choice  of  three  professorships.  Classics,  Mathema- 
tics, or  the  Belles-lettres.  I  believe  his  intention  is 
13*      . 


t  150  MEMOIR    OF    DR.    BUCHANAN. 

to  accept  of  a  situation  in  college,  if  it  be  easy; 
but  if  not,  to  decline  it  on  the  plea  of  health. 

*'  Dear  sir,  I  cannot  expect  to  see  you  in  this 
world,  may  I  therefore  request  you  to  send  your 
blessing  to  me  and  my  little  girl. 

"  I  desire  my  love  to  your  niece,  and  remain, 
my  dear  sir,  yours,  with  christian  affection, 

"  Mary  Buchanan." 

The  second  of  these  letters  is  to  Mr.  Elliott ; 
and-  while  it  expresses  with  equal  simplicity  the 
advancing  piety  of  her  own  mind,  it  recognizes  the 
support  which  Lord  Wellesley  was  then  affording 
to  reHgion  in  Calcutta.  It  is  of  the  same  date  with 
the  former. 

"  Dear  Sir, — Your  letter  to  Mr.  Buchanan,  in 
which  you  mention  our  marriage,  gave  me  real 
pleasure.  And  as  you  expressed  a  wish  that  I 
should  write  to  you,  I  take  this  opportunity  to  thank 
you  for  your  affectionate  congratulations.  You 
have  reason  indeed  to  congratulate  me.  It  is  the 
happiest  circumstance  in  my  life  that  I  ever  came 
to  India,  where  I  have  been  united  to  one  whose 
endeavors  God  has  been  pleased  to  bless,  in  lead- 
ing me  to  some  knowledge  of  the  everlasting  Gos- 
pel. It  is  a  new  Gospel  to  me,  and  I  seem  to  live 
in  a  new  world,  differing  far  more  from  my  old 
world  than  India  differs  from  England.    May  I  re- 


AT    CALCUTTA.  151 

quest  your  prayers  tliat  this  good  work  may  be 
carried  on  in  my  lieart,  and  tliat  it  may  issue  in 
honor  to  my  beloved  husband,  and  to  his  ministry 
here  1  He  lias  mucli  to  encourage  him  in  the  work 
of  llie  Gospel.  There  is  an  evident  change  in  the 
face  of  the  society  here,  even  in  the  short  time 
since  I  aroved  ifi  the  country.  Lord  Wellesley 
seems  inclined  to  support  the  christian  religion  by 
cccnj  means.  Vital  religion  also  is  incieasing.  It 
seems  to  be  fostered  under  the  wing  of  that  gene- 
ral sanction  to  Christianity  which  has  lately  been 
given.  This  is  the  only  place  in  India  where  reli- 
gion is  countenanced.  We  have  now  many  respec- 
table families  here  in  which  piety  meets  with  real 
encouragement.  I  remain,  dear  sir,  yours,  with 
much  esteem,  Mary  Buchanan." 

By  the  despatch  which  conveyed  the  two  pre- 
ceding letters,  Mr.  Buchanan  sent  another  remit- 
tance to  his  mother,  to  the  comfort  of  whose  de- 
clining years  he  was  afterwards  enabled  still  more 
largely  to  contribute. 

On  the  ISth  of  August,  ISOO,  the  College  of 
Fort  WdHaiu,  which  had  been  virtually  in  opera- 
tion since  the  4th  of  May,  was  formally  establish- 
ed by  a  minute  in  council,*  in  which  the  Governor 

*  See  "  The  College  of  Fort  William,  in  Bengal,"  pub- 
lished  by  Mr.  Buchanan  in  1805. 


152  MEMOIR   OF   DR.    BUCHANAN. 

General  detailed  at  length  his  reasons  for  such  an 
institution.  Tlie  important  part  which  Mr.  Bu- 
chanan took  in  the  conduct  of  that  establishment 
will  sufficiently  justify  the  following  brief  abstract 
of  the  able  and  interesting  document  referred  to. 
The  British  possessions  in  India,  said  his  lord- 
ship, now  constitute  one  of  the  most  extensive  and 
populous  empires  in  the  world.  The  immediate 
administration  of  the  government  of  the  various 
provinces  and  nations  composing  this  empire  is 
principally  confided  to  the  European  civil  servants 
of  the  East  India  Company.  Upon  them,  in  con- 
sequence, devolve  the  duties  of  dispensing  justice 
to  millions  of  people  of  various  languages,  manners, 
usages,  and  religions ;  of  administering  a  vast  and 
complicated  system  of  revenue  throughout  districts 
equal  in  extent  to  some  of  the  most  considerable 
kingdoms  in  Europe ;  and  of  maintaining  civil 
order  in  one  of  the  most  populous  and  litigious 
regions  of  the  world.  They  can,  therefore,  no 
loncrer  be  considered  as  the  aofents  of  a  commer- 
cial  concern  ;  they  are,  in  fact,  the  ministers  and 
officers  of  a  powerful  sovereign,  and  must  be  view- 
ed in  that  capacity,  with  a  reference,  not  to  their 
nominal,  but  to  their  real  occupations.  Their  edu- 
cation should  consequently  be  founded  in  a  general 
knowledge  of  those  branches  of  literature  and 
science  which  form  the  basis  of  the  education  of 
persons  destined  to  similar  offices  in  Europe.     To 


AT   CALCUTTA.  153 

this  fouTidation  should  be  added  an  intimate  ac- 
quaintance vvitli  the  history,  languages,  customs, 
and  manners  of  the  people  of  India,  with  the  Mo- 
hammedan and  Hindoo  codes  of  law  and  religion, 
and  with  the  political  inteiests  and  relations  uf 
Great  Jjritain  in  Asia.  They  should  be  regularly 
instructed  in  the  principles  and  system  which  con- 
stitute the  foundation  of  that  wise  code  of  regula- 
tions and  laws  enacted  by  the  Governor  General 
in  council,  for  the  purpose  of  securing  to  the  people 
of  this  empire  the  benefit  of  the  ancient  and  esta- 
blished laws  of  the  country,  administered  in  the 
spirit  of  the  British  constitution.  Finally,  their 
early  habits  should  be  so  formed  as  to  establish  in 
their  minds  such  solid  foundations  of  industry, 
prudence,  integrity,  and  religion,  as  should  effec- 
tually guard  them  against  those  temptations  and 
corruptions  with  which  the  nature  of  the  climate 
and  the  peculiar  depravity  of  the  people  of  India 
will  surround  and  assail  them  in  every  station,  es- 
pecially upon  their  first  arrival  in  India.  The  early 
discipline  of  the  service  should  be  calculated  to 
counteract  the  defects  of  the  climate  and  the  vices 
of  the  people,  and  to  form  a  natural  barrier  aoainst 
habitual  indolence,  dissipation,  and  licentious  indul- 
gence :  the  spirit  of  emulation  in  honorable  and 
useful  pursuits  should  be  kindled  and  kept  alive 
by  the  continual  prospect  of  distinction  and  reward, 
of  profit  and  honor ;  nor  should  any  precaution  be 


154 


MEMOIR    OP    DR.    BUCHANAN. 


relaxed  in  India  which  is  deemed  necessary  in 
England  to  furnish  a  sufficient  supply  of  men 
qualified  to  fill  the  high  offices  of  the  state  with 
credit  to  themselves  and  with  advantage  to  the 
public. 

An  additional  motive  for  such  an  institution  as 
was  then  meditated,  was  derived  from  the  acknow- 
ledged fact,  that  at  this  period  the  erroneous  and 
pestilent  principles  of  the  French  revolutionary 
school  had  reached  the  minds  of  some  individuals 
in  the  service  of  the  Company  in  India  ;  and  that 
the  state,  as  well  of  political  as  religious  opinions, 
had  been  in  some  degree  unsettled.  An  institu- 
tion, therefore,  tending  to  fix  and  establish  sound 
and  correct  principles  of  religion  and  government 
in  the  minds  of  the  junior  servants  of  the  Com- 
pany at  an  early  period  of  life,  was  the  best  secu- 
rity that  could  be  ])rovided  for  the  stability  of  the 
British  power  in  India. 

After  discussing  the  practicability  of  forming 
any  adequate  establishment  in  England  for  the 
purpose  of  duly  educating  such  a  body  of  men  as 
had  been  described,  and  determining  that  it  could 
not  be  obtained  otherwise  than  in  India,  the  Go- 
vernor General  concluded  by  declaring,  that  a  col 
lege  was  by  this  minute  in  council  founded  at  For' 
William,  for  the  better  instruction  of  the  junioi 
civil  servants  of  the  Company  in  such  branches  of 
literature,   science,  and  knowledge,  as  might   be 


AT  CALCUTTA.  155 

deemed  necessary  to  qualify  them  for  the  discharge 
of  the  duties  of  the  different  offices  constituted  for 
the  administration  of  the  government  of  the  British 
possessions  in  the  East  Indies. 

Tlie  general  reasons  upon  which  the  Marquis 
Wellesley  proceeded  in  the  formation  of  this  im- 
portant institution,  must  be  admitted  to  be  charac- 
terized by  the  soundest  views  of  a  liberal  arid  en- 
lightened jDolicy.  Whatevej:  diflerence  of  opinion 
may  exist  as  to  the  extent  or  detailed  arrangement 
of  the  establishment,  there  can  scarcely  be  any  as 
to  the  principles  upon  which  it  was  founded.  The 
success,  too,  of  the  institution,  as  will  be  hereafter 
seen,  fully  justified  the  wisdom  of  the  original  plan, 
and  reflects  the  hidiest  honor  on  its  distinsfuished 
author. 

The  immediate  government  of  the  college  was 
vested  in  a  Provost  and  Vice-Provost,  and  three 
other  oflicers,  to  whose  notice  every  part  of  the  pri- 
vate conduct  of  the  students,  their  expenses,  their 
connections,  their  manners,  and  morals,  were  to  be 
subject.  Professorships  were  established  in  the  lan- 
guages chiefly  spoken  and  used  in  the  different  pro- 
vinces of  India,  in  Hindoo  and  Mohammedan  law, 
in  the  regulations  and  laws  enacted  at  the  several 
presidencies  for  the  civil  government  of  the  British 
territories,  in  political  economy,  and  particularly 
the  commercial  institutions  and  interests  of  the 
East  India  Company,  and  in  various  branches  of 


156  MEMOIR   OP    DR.    BUCHANAN. 

literature  and  science.  There  was  also  to  be  a  con- 
siderable establishment  of  learned  natives  attached 
to  the  college;  some  of  whom  were  to  be  employ- 
ed in  teaching  the  students,  others  in  making  trans- 
lations, and  others  in  composing  original  works  in 
the  oriental  tongues. 

The  excitements  to  exertion  in  the  college  of 
Fort  William  were  of  the  highest  and  most  effec- 
tive nature  ;  and  its  nfloral,  economical,  and  reli- 
gious discipline,  such  as  was  admirably  calculated 
to  promote  all  that  is  virtuous,  dignified,  and  use- 
ful in  civil  society.  This  latter  most  important 
branch  of  the  institution  was,  in  an  especial  man- 
ner, confided  to  the  provost  and  vice  provost,  who 
were  thus  honorably  introduced  to  the  public  no- 
tice b}'^  its  noble  founder. 

"  Fortunately,"  observes  his  lordship,  *'  for  the 
objects  of  the  institution,  the  Governor  General  has 
found  at  Calcutta  two  cleigymen  of  the  church  of 
England  eminently  qualified  to  discharge  the  du- 
ties of  ])ruvost  and  vice-provost.  To  the  former 
office  he  has  appointed  Mr.  Brown,  the  Company's 
first  chaplain,  and  to  the  latter,  Mr.  Buchanan. 
Mr.  Brown's  character  must  be  well  known  in  Eng- 
land, and  particularly  so  to  some  members  of  the 
Court  of  Directors  ;  it  is  in  every  respect  such  as  to 
satisfy  the  Governor  General  that  his  views,  in  this 
nomination,  will  not  be  disappointed.  He  has  also 
formed  the  highest  expectations  from  the  abilities, 


AT    CALCUTTA.  157 

learning,  temper,  and  morals  of  Mr.  Budianan, 
^vhose  characler  is  also  well  known  in  England, 
and  particularly  to  Dr.  Porteus,  Bishop  of  London, 
and  to  Dr.  Milner,  Master  of  Queen's  College  in 
the  University  of  Cambridge." 

A  body  of  statutes  was  afterwards  compiled  and 
promulgated  by  Marquis  Wellesley,  which  regu- 
lated the  admission  of  students  and  professois,  the 
lectures,  exercises,  examinations,  and  public  dis- 
putations, and  every  other  branch  of  the  college 
business.  The  office  of  the  provost,  and,  virtually, 
of  the  vice  provost,  was  expressed  in  the  follow- 
in  sr  terms  ; 

**  It  shall  be  the  peculiar  province  and  sacred 
duty  of  the  provost  governing  the  college  at  Fort 
William,  to  guard  the  moral  and  religious  interests 
of  the  institution,  and  vigilantly  to  superintend  the 
conduct  and  principles  of  all  its  members. 

"  Divine  service  shall  be  performed  in  the  col- 
lege chapel  at  such  times  as  the  provost  shall  ap- 
point." 

Provision  was  also  made  Ly  the  statutes  for  ap- 
plying the  internal  authority  of  the  superior  officers 
of  the  college,  to  strengthen  and  confirm  within 
our  eastern  possessions  the  attaclunent  of  the  civil 
servants  of  the  Company  to  the  laws  and  coustitu- 

Buchanan.  14 


158  MEMOIR   OF    DR.    BUCHANAN. 

tion  of  Great  Britain,  and  to  maintain  and  uphold 
the  christian  religion  in  that  quarter  of  the  globe. 

The  appointment  of  the  superior  officers  of  the 
college  was  notified  in  a  Calcutta  gazette  extraor- 
dinary on  the  20th  of  September,  ISOO,  though 
they  were  not  formally  admitted  to  their  offices 
till  the  24th  of  April  following.  Towards  the  close 
of  the  former  year  an  advertisement  was  publish- 
ed in  different  parts  of  India,  announcing  the  esta- 
blishment of  the  colleoe,  and  invitinor  men  of  learn- 
ing  and  knowledge,  moulvies,  pundits,  and  moon- 
shees,  to  Calcutta,  for  the  purpose  of  submitting 
to  an  examination,  with  a  view  to  the  choice  of 
some  as  teachers  in  the  college.  About  fifty  na- 
tives, and  subsequently  a  larger  number,  were  in 
consequence  attached  to  it.     . 

Lectures  in  the  Arabic,  Hindostanee,  and  Per- 
sian languages,  commenced  in  the  month  of  No- 
vember, 1800  ;  and  the  first  regular  term  opened 
on  the  6th  of  February  following. 


CHAPTER  V. 


Two  years  in  Calcutta — Collfge  of  Fort  W*illiam — Pub- 
lic engagements  and  plans. 

With  the  commencement  of  the  year  ISOl  Mr. 
Buchanan  entered  upon  his  important  and  labori- 


AT    CALCUTTA.  l.')9 

ous  duties  as  vice-provost  and  professor  of  classics 
in  the  college  of  Fort  William.  His  health  and  spi- 
rits had  hitherto  been  more  or  less  depressed  ;  nor 
was  the  former  likely  to  be  improved  by  the  vari- 
ous weighty  engagements  which  now  devolved 
upon  him.  A  work,  however,  had  at  length  been 
assigned  to  him,  both  in  the  college  and  as  one  of 
the  chaplains  of  the  Presidency ;  which,  while  it 
demanded  his  utmost  talents  and  exertions,  deep- 
ly interested  his  feelings,  and  animated  him  with 
the  hope  of  becoming  extensively  useful  in  India. 
Early  in  this  year  he  thus  wrote  to  Mr.  Grant : 

"  Since  my  last  to  you  nothing  of  importance 
has  occurred  here.  The  resfulation  concerninsf  the 
college  has  been  carried  into  effect,  and  the  insti- 
tution has  already  acquired  energy  and  tranquillity. 
We  have  about  a  hundred  students ;  the  greater 
part  of  whom  promise  to  distinguish  themselves. 
There  are  as  remarkable  instances  of  application 
here,  as  I  have  known  at  Cambridge. 

"  Both  the  churches  are  generally  full,  particu- 
larly in  the  cold  weather.  The  college  chapel  has 
punkas,  which  will  probably  draw  a  great  number 
of  the  townspeople  during  the  hot  season.  Lord 
Wellesley  has  fitted  up  a  pew  for  himself  in  chapel- 

"  Mr.  Obeck  breakfasted  with  Mrs.  Buchanan 
this  morning,  and  pleased  her  much  with  the  ac- 
count he  gave  of  you  and  your  family  for  a  series 


160  MEMOIR   OF   DR.    BUCHANAN. 

of  years  in  this  country.  The  old  man  still  retaias 
his  faculties  in  vigor,  and  is  sti-ong  in  body.  His 
office  at  present  is  the  distribution  of  four  or  five 
hundred  rupees  a  month  to  the  poor.  The  cold 
meat  of  college  suppoits  a  great  number  of  poor 
Portuguese  and  English. 

"  Some  of  the  college  students  have  already 
made  most  distinguished  proficiency  in  the  oriental 
languages.  By  the  statutes  they  must  be  able  to 
hold  public  disputations  in  these  languages  on  a 
given  subject.  Ten  of  the  first  proficients  go  out 
the  first  year,  and  twenty  the  second.  The  spirit  of 
emulation,  of  interest,  and  of  fame,  is  excited  in  a 
very  remarkable  degree.  No  impropriety  of  con- 
duct is  known.  All  is  silence,  and  study,  and  deco- 
rum. They  all  dine  in  the  college  hall,  in  the  pre- 
sence of  the  professors. 

"  There  are  some  instances  of  a  serious  spirit  of 
religious  inquiry  among  the  students. 

"  Lord  AVellesley  wants  some  persons  of  distin- 
guished ability  in  science  and  classics  to  superin- 
tend in  college,  and  thinks,  properly,  that  they 
should,  if  possible,  be  clerical  men. 

''  Mr.  Brown  is  in  a  precarious  state  of  health  at 
present ;  and  I  have  never  been  strong.  No  such 
field  is  any  where  to  be  found  for  learning  and 
piety  as  that  which  Calcutta  at  this  time  exhibits." 

In  the  month  of  June  follov/ing  Mr.  Buchanan 


AT    CALCUTTA.  161 

thus  resumes  his.  account  of  the  two  subjects  of 
Indian  intelligence  most  interesting  to  himself,  the 
church  and  the  college,  in  a  letter  to  Mr.  Grant, 
and  announces  Mrs.  Buchanan's  approaching  re- 
turn to  England. 

"  Our  church  continues  in  much  the  same  slate 
in  which  I  described  it  to  be  in  my  last.  We  have 
had  an  addition  of  some  communicants,  chiefly 
from  college.  The  church  thins  a  little  always  in 
the  hot  months  of  May  and  June.  Lord  W.  has 
proposed  to  use  punkas  and  tatties  ;  and  it  is  pro- 
bable that  we  shall  have  recourse  to  them  next 
season. 

"  The  college  still  goes  on  with  spirit  and  ener- 
gy. Some  of  the  students  will  leave  it,  and  enter 
on  the  service  in  December,  1801,  (this  year.)  I 
see  clearly  that  all  our  future  professors  and  ex- 
aminers will  be  taken  from  among  those  who  have 
been  students.  It  is  with  the  greatest  difficulty 
that  we  can  find  in  the  whole  service  examiners  in 
the  various  languages  who  have  confidence  to  face 
the  students.  So  that  we  have  been  obliged  to  take 
our  examiners  from  among  the  professors,  which  is 
rather  contrary  to  the  statutes." 

Mr.  Buchanan  appears  to  have  detained  this  let- 
ter till  after  the  3d  of  July,  on  which  day  the  first 
public  examination  of  the  college  students  took 
14* 


162  MEMOIR    OF    DR.    BUCHANAN. 

place.  The  name  of  liis  young  friend,  Mr.  William 
Elliott,  appeared  at  the  head  of  the  first  class  in 
the  Persian  and  Hindostanee  languages,  and  in 
Nagree  writing,  and  in  the  first  class  of  Arabic. 
Mr.  Buchanan  speaks  also  of  the  good  conduct  and 
distinguished  proficiency  in  the  languages  of  some 
other  young  men  as  being  above  all  praise.  He 
then  adverts  to  the  health  of  Mrs.  Buchanan,  who 
since  her  return  from  Pulo  Penang  had  experien- 
ced a  return  of  her  consumptive  complaint,  which 
made  it  necessary  for  her  to  try  the  efiect  of  her 
native  air.  "  Should  her  health,"  he  adds,  "  be  re- 
stored, she  will  return  to  India,  after  a  short  resi- 
dence with  her  family." 

Accordingly  on  the  25th  of  July,  ISOl,  Mrs.  Bu- 
chanan embarked  for  England,  taking  with  her 
their  eldest  daughter,  Charlotte,  and  leaving  the 
youngest,  Augusta,  then  not  quite  six  months  old, 
with  Mr.  Buchanan.  Her  voyage  was  stormy,  and 
otherwise  perilous  and  painful ;  but  she  reached 
her  native  country  in  safety  on  the  eighteenth  of 
February,  1S02. 

She  was  the  bearer  of  a  letter  to  one  of  Mr.  Bu- 
chanan's friends,  in  which  he  mentions  that  the  re- 
gular attendance  of  the  greater  number  of  the  stu- 
dents on  divine  worship,  and  still  more  decisive 
proofs  of  serious  impressions  amongst  them,  had 
given  him  new  ardor  and  new  hope  that  the  col- 
lege of  Fort  William  would  prove  a  religious  as 
well  as  a  literary  blessing  to  many  of  them. 


AT    CALCUTTA.  163 

Mr.  "Buchanan  then  observes  in  reply  to  a  sug- 
geslion  of  Ijis  correspondent,  whether  he  might  not 
have  attempted  to  preach  to  tlie  Hindoos,  that,  m- 
de])endent]y  of  various  other  impediments,  it  was 
inconsistent  with  the  lulcs  prescribed  to  him  as  a 
chaplain  of  the  Company;*  but  that,  altliough  he 
had  not  converted  any  natives,  he  had  been  honor- 
ed as  the  instrument  of  the  conveision  of  souls  in 
India,   and  had  seen  some  of  them  die  in  the  faith. 

The  fiiend  to  whom  Mr,  Buchanan  was  writing 
had  also  hinted  tliat  some  of  his  English  corres- 
pondents were  disappointed  at  so  seldom  hearing 
from  him.  To  this  he  thus  satisfactorily  replies  : 

"  I  had  such  a  numerous  body  of  friends  and  ac- 
quaintances, literary  and  religious,  in  Scotland  and 
in  England,  that  I  found  it  was  in  vain  to  attempt 
a  correspondence  with  them  all  in  my  infirm  state 
of  health.  1  have  therefore  scarcely  written  to  any 
one  but  to  yourself,  Mr.  Newton,  and  Mr.  Grant. 
I  have  less  time  now  than  ever  ;  and  even  my  let- 
ters to  you  will  be  less  frequent.  The  chief  labor 
of  the  churches  is  devolving  fast  upon  me.  My  re- 
ligious correspondence  in  India  is  greater  than  at 


♦  It  must  be  remembered  that  a  considerable  change  with 
respect  to  religion  has  taken  place  in  India  since  the  period 
to  which  this  observation  refers,  and  that  what  was  then  a 
subject  of  the  most  jealous  suspicion.  ii>  now  regarded  with 
more  liberal  and  chrisliau  feelings. 


164  MEMOIR    OP    DR.    BUCHANAN. 

any  former  time.  The  whole  direction  of  the  col- 
lege lies  with  me  ;  every  paper  is  drawn  up  by  me  ; 
and  every  thing  that  is  printed  is  revised  by  me. 
In  addition  to  this,  I  give  Greek  and  Latin  lectures 
four  days  in  the  week  during  term  ;  and  I  must 
visit  and  receive  visits  on  an  average  twice  a  day. 
"  You  desired  me  to  say  something  in  self-de- 
fence, else  I  should  not  have  given  you  the  above. 
I  am  yet  an  unprofitable  servant,  very  unworthy 
the  lowest  place  in  my  Master's  vineyard  ;  and  I 
am  supported  chiefly  at  times  by  the  feeble  hope 
that  the  Lord,  who  works  by  any  means,  will  be 
pleased  to  work  even  by  rae." 

From  the  time  that  Mr.  Buchanan  removed  to 
the  presidency  he  generally  preached  at  one  or 
other  of  the  churches  in  Calcutta  once,  and  some- 
times twice,  on  the  Sabbath.  It  appears  also,  from 
a  book  of  memoranda,  in  which  he  briefly  noticed 
his  engagements  during  the  five  most  active  years 
of  his  residence  in  India,  that  he  occasionally 
preached  the  weekly  evening  lecture,  which  had 
been  established  by  Mr.  Brown.  In  writing  to  a 
friend  at  Cambridge,  Mr.  Buchanan  observed  that 
the  consrregations  at  the  new  church  were  more 
numerous  than  those  at  St.  Mary's,  more  elegant, 
equally  critical,  and  perhaps  not  less  intelligent. 
To  address  such  audiences  with  acceptance  and 
effect  must  consequently  have  demanded  much  la- 


AT   CALCUTTA.  1G5 

boric. US  preparation.  At  tlie  mission  cl-.urcli  the 
congregations  were  chiefly  composed  of  those  who 
simply  sought  christian  instruction  and  edification. 

Of  tlie  general  tenor  of  liis  discourses  at  bolli 
places,  some  idea  may  be  formed  from  tlie  preced- 
ing view  of  his  character  and  sentiments.  A  few 
notices  of  tlie  sul)jects  of  liis  pleaching  occur 
amongst  the  memoranda  just  referred  to.  The  fol- 
lowing are  some  of  tliem  :  "  The  inward  witness  to 
Christianity,"  from  1  John,  5:10.  ''  The  barren 
fig-tree,"  at  the  close  of  the  year  ISOl.  "  In  Adam 
all  die,"  on  tlie  Easter  following.  "  The  second 
Adam."  •'  Jairus."  "  On  knowledge."  "  We 
preach  Christ  crucified."  "  The  second  advent." 
*'  Abraham  seeking  a  country."  ''  St.  Paul  at 
Athens."  '"If  then  ye  be  risen  with  Christ,  seek 
those  things  which  are  above."  'Jliese  are  indeed 
but  scanty  memorials  of  Mr.  Buchanan's  labors  in 
Calcutta  as  a  preacher.  Some  specimens,  however, 
of  his  sermons  will  hereafter  be  adduced. 

Scarcely  more  numerous  or  detailed  traces  re- 
main of  the  other  great  branch  of  his  employment, 
as  vice  provost  and  classical  professor  in  the  col- 
lege of  Fort  William.  Although  Mr.  Brown,  as  the 
senior  chaplain  of  the  presidency,  accepted  the 
office  of  provost,  and  in  both  capacities  was  zealous 
and  indefatigable  in  his  endeavors  to  promote  the 
interests  of  religion  in  Calcutta,  the  superinten- 
dence and  practical  government  of  the  college  rest- 


166  MEMOIR    OP    DR.    BUCHANAN. 

ed  upon  Mr.  Buchanan.  Occasional  notices  occur 
in  these  imperfect  records,  of  the  books  in  which 
he  lectured  during  different  terms,  as  well  as  of  his 
sermons.  Homer  and  Virgil,  Longinus  and  Demos- 
thenes, Terence  and  Juvenal,  Livy,  Horace,  and 
Xenophon,  are  among  the  authors  enumerated  as 
occupying  the  attention  of  the  students  of  Fort 
WilHam.  Independently  of  his  lectures  in  these 
and  other  classical  writers,  Mr.  Buchanan's  me- 
moranda notice  frequent  communications  with 
Lord  Wellesley  and  the  council  of  the  college 
upon  points  of  internal  discipline  and  arrangement, 
the  composition  of  various  public  orders,  letters, 
and  other  papers  and  documents,  the  revision  of 
college  essays  and  books  connected  with  the  insti- 
tution, and  attendances  at  the  terminal  examina- 
tions, disputations,  and  subsequent  distribution  into 
classes  of  the  students. 

The  time  necessarily  employed  in  these  multi- 
plied labors,  in  maintaining  a  correspondence  in 
India  and  Europe,  and  in  visits  of  ceremony,  friend- 
ship, or  charity,  and  amongst  the  latter  some  are 
mentioned  to  the  orphan  and  other  schools  in  and 
near  Calcutta,  will  suffice  to  prove,  that  no  sooner 
were  these  opportunities  of  active  service  and  use- 
fulness presented  to  Mr.  Buchanan,  than  he  em- 
braced them  with  a  des:ree  of  ardor,  dilig^ence, 
and  perseverance,  which  reflects  the  highest  honor 
on  his  principles  and  his  practice. 


AT    CALCUTTA.  1G7 

It  will  not,  however,  be  a  subject  of  surprise  to 
those  who  are  aware  of  the  high  standard  by  which 
such  men  as  Mr.  Brown  and  Mr.  Buchanan  are  ac- 
customed to  measure  their  obligations,  to  find  that 
neither  of  them  was  satisfied  with  his  endeavors  to 
fulfil  them.  We  have  already  had  proof  of  their 
mutual  anxiety  upon  these  important  points.  And 
we  have  now  to  witness  another  of  a  still  more  in- 
teresting nature,  in  a  reply  of  Mr.  Buchanan  to  a 
communication  from  Mr.  Brown,  who  was  then  at 
Chanderna2:ore,  where  he  had  been  residino^  some 
months  for  the  benefit  of  his  health.  This  valu- 
able testimony  to  the  pastoral  feelins:s  of  both  is 
as  follows : 

"  Calcutta,  Nov.  29,  1801, 
"  My  dear  Sir, — I  received  your  letter  last  night. 
I  envy  much  the  zealous  affection  which  animates 
your  mind,  and  would  gladly  go  up  to  Chanderna- 
gore  also,  to  obtain  the  same.  Old  Mr.  Newton, 
Avhen  in  the  country,  used  to  think  that  London 
was  Sardis ;  but  when  he  came  up  to  tcnvn,  he 
found  there  a  great  assembly  walking  in  white  ;  and 
so  he  joined  them.  I  have  thought  more  seriously 
in  Calcutta  than  ever  I  did  at  Barrackpore.  But 
what  I  have  been  (at  any  period  of  my  life)  is  so 
little  like  what  I  would  wish  to  be,  that  I  cannot 
contemplate  it  without  remorse.  I  do  not  know 
that  I  ever  had  what  christians  call  '  zeal.'   I  recol- 


163  MEMOIR   OP    DH.    EirciIANAN*. 

lect  lliat  I  expected  it  won]d  grow  when  I  entered 
the  ministry  ;  but  I  had  scarcely  entered  the  minis- 
try, and  preached  a  few  times,  when  I  was  sent  to 
this  country. 

**  I  never  knew,  as  you  do,  what  it  was  to  preach 
profitably  and  zealously  for  a  season.  That  is  u 
work  I  have  to  begin  ;  and  how  to  begin  it  I  l;now 
not.  I  need  an  unction  from  on  high,  which  I 
anxiously  look  for ;  and  yet  in  looking  for  this,  I 
look  for  that  which  I  never  knew  as  most  have 
known  it. 

'^  One  thing  urges  me  sometimes  to  press  for- 
ward with  hope  ;  and  that  is,  that  all  I  hear  and 
all  I  say  appears  to  rae  to  be  so  very  unlike  what 
it  ought  to  be,  that  I  imagine  something  belter 
might  be  attempted.  And  yet  were  the  Spirit  in- 
deed to  descend,  we  cannot  expect  that  God,  who 
v/orkcth  by  natural  means,  should  suddenly  add 
the  eloquent  mouth  and  new  powers  of  memory 
and  understanding.  The  holy  skill  of  preaching  ap- 
pears to  be  the  fruit  of  long  experience  and  con- 
verse among  God's  people.  And  in  Calcutta,  as  in 
every  other  place,  the  able  minister  of  the  New 
Testament  can  only  be  made  by  nightly  and  wake- 
ful meditation,  patient  study,  and  prayer  producing 
self-denial. 

''  It  appears  to  rae  that  it  was  never  intended 
that  the  Gospel  should  flourish  in  the  heart  and 
mouth  of  any  minister  who  did  not  make  it  the 


AT    CALCUTTA.  169 

*  one  thin?,'  the  sole  point  of  heartfelt  recurrence. 
But  when  it  is  made  so,  I  can  easily  conceive  how 
the  tender  plant  grows  a  great  tree  with  spreading 
branches  and  refreshing  fruit.  Then,  no  doubt, 
even  a  mind  naturally  barren  bears  exuberant 
ideas,  and  is  constantly  forming  lively  images  ;  and, 
though  the  mouth  be  rude  in  speech,  the  full  heart 
becomes  vocal,  and  utters  the  '  word  in  season.' 

*'  Whether  either  of  us  will  be  able  thus  to  make 
the  Gospel  the  '  one  thing,'  time  will  show.  '  He 
that  warreth,'  ought  not  to  '  entangle  himself  with 
the  affairs  of  this  life.'  But  do  we  2var  ?  Time 
enough  for  the  soldier  to  disencumber  himself 
when  he  begins  to  fight.  It  is  easy  to  throw  off  a 
college;  but  it  is  very  difficult  to  take  up  the 
church.  But  when  the  church  spirit  appears,  it  will 
soon  conquer  the  college. 

"  The  grand  question  is,  ought  not  means  to  be 
used  to  mature  that  spirit  which  we  desire  %  We 
read  '  that  a  good  soldier  of  Jesus  Christ  entangleth 
himself  not  with  the  affairs  of  this  life,  that  he  may 
please  him  who  hath  chosen  him  to  be  a  soldier ;' 
or,  as  Guyse  explains  it,  *  he  must  not  follow  any 
civil  calling,  unprofitable  reading,  or  unnecessary 
relaxation,  to  entangle  his  thoughts  and  swallow 
up  his  time ;'  (superintending  a  college  is  a  civil 
calling,  Latin  and  Greek  is  unprofitable  reading, 
and  lying  in  bed  after  five  in  the  morning  is  unne- 
cessary relaxation ;)  *  but  his  whole  lime,  words, 

Buchanan.  15 


170  MEMOIR   OF    DR.    BUCHANAN. 

thoughts,  and  actions  must  be  employed,  like  a 
soldier's,  on  his  calling,  that  he  may  please  Him 
who  hath  chosen  and  authorized  him  to  fight.' 

"  How  far,  in  what  manncM-,  and  in  what  particu- 
lars, St.  Paul  would  obey  the  spirit  of  this  passage, 
were  he  in  your  situation  or  mine,  I  really  cannot 
tell.  Were  he  here,  he  would  be  warring.  After 
we  have  warred  for  some  time,  we  also  shall  know. 
*  O  that  I  knew  the  will  of  God  in  this  matter/ 
.saith  Augustine ;  '  but  I  am  not  worthy  to  know 
his  will.  This  ignorance  is  the  fruit  of  my  back- 
sliding.' 

"  One  thing  seems  probable,  that  no  sudden  suc- 
cess will  appear  from  any  sudden  change  of  our 
style  of  address  or  manner  of  preaching.  It  arises 
usually  from  the  impression  of  private  character 
and  manner  of  life.  Private  character  alone  will 
confirm  the  public  sermon.  The  holy  life  of  the 
minister  is  the  good  alterative  among  men. 

"*  As  to  myself,  it  is  my  only  desire  to  be  of  some 
service  to  the  church  of  Christ  before  I  die ;  and 
I  would  gladly  seize  any  means,  by  change  of  situ- 
ation or  otherwise,  which  would  enable  me  to  do 
so.  As  to  this  world,  there  is  no  object  (if  I  know 
my  own  heart  at  all)  which  I  have  in  view ;  nei- 
ther of  family,  of  fortune,  of  situation,  of  leavii^g 
this  country,  or  continuing  in  it.  I  have  chiefly  to 
complain  of  a  languid  and  heartless  constitution, 
both  in  body  and  mind,  which  makes  me  to  bear 


AT    CALCUTTA.  171 

easily  with  all  things,  and  to  have  little  pleasure  in 
any  thing.  This  loss  of  energy  and  life  has  been 
occasioned  paitly  by  a  continued  course  of  ill 
health,  partly  by  the  untowaid  circumstances  in 
my  situation  since  I  arrived  in  the  country,  but 
chiefly  by  the  natural  contagion  of  unchristian 
manners. 

"  I  am,  however,  at  this  time  more  independent 
of  society  I  dislike,  than  at  any  former  period  since 
my  arrival  in  India;  and  I  liope  to  be  yet  more  so. 
Whether  by  resigning  college  appointments,  se- 
cluding myself  from  the  world,  and  preaching 
twice  a  week,  I  should  be  of  more  service  than  by 
maintaining  a  public  situation,  is  a  question  I  can- 
not answer.  What  may  be  impossible  and  impro- 
per now,  may  be  possible  and  proper  hereafter. 

"  However,  the  chief  consideration  at  present  is 
the  state  of  the  heart.  How  is  the  soul  with  God  1 
I  endeavor  by  prayer  to  restore  it  daily,  relying 
(though  feebly)  on  the  aid  of  the  Mediator,  won- 
dering sometimes  that  I  am  not  worse,  oppressed  in 
spirit  at  a  view  of  the  past,  and  hoping  for  better 
days. 

"  I  shall  ever  be  ready  to  accede  to  any  plan  you 
can  suggest  for  the  furtherance  of  our  ministry. 
You  say  you  '  long  to  launch  out  into  the  fulness 
of  Christ.'  So  do  I.  But  these  words  are  too  apos- 
tolic for  me  at  present.  In  order  to  launch  forth 
like  *  *  ♦  I  should  need  not  only  a  new  effusion 


172  MEMOIR   OF    DR.    BUCHANAN. 

of  the  Holy  Spirit,  hut  those  natural  abilities  which 
generally  accompany  such  an  effusion,  in  order  to 
make  it  useful.  Circumstances  seem  to  admonish 
me,  that  the  '  still  small  voice,'  and  not  '  the  rush- 
ing mighty  wind,'  is  my  province  in  the  Gospel. 
What  another  school  than  Calcutta  would  have 
produced,  I  know  not.  But  I  shall  be  blessed,  if 
o^race  be  griven  unto  me  to  do  what  o^ood  I  can, 
consistently  and  steadily  in  my  various  situations. 
Unhappily,  collegiate  avocations  usurp  much  of  my 
time.  But  let  us  beware  of  repining  at  the  neces- 
sity of  spending  time  in  this  way,  till  we  become 
confident  that,  were  all  our  time  at  our  own  dispo- 
sal, we  should  spend  it  in  a  better. 

"  I  earnestly  pray  that  we  may  both  be  rightly 
directed  in  our  labors  in  this  vineyard,  that  we  may 
see  some  fruit  in  others,  and  enjoy  the  comfort 
ourselves  of  faithful  ministers  of  the  Gospel.  I  think 
better  days  are  at  hand. 

"  In  this  hope  I  remain,  my  dear  sir,  very  affec- 
tionately yours,  C.  Buchanan.'* 

It  is  not  among  the  least  interesting  circum- 
stances relative  to  this  exquisite  letter,  that  it  ex- 
hibits both  its  author  and  the  friend  to  whom  it 
was  addressed,  in  a  country  which  at  that  time  pos- 
sessed no  ecclesiastical  superior,  amidst  multiplied 
engagements  of  the  most  honorable  and  useful  na- 
ture, and  under  the  pressure  of  infirm  health  in  an 


AT    CALCUTTA.  173 

enervating  climate,  earnestly  occupied,  not  in  de- 
vising some  method  of  relieving  themselves  from 
the  burthen  of  their  employments,  in  framing  plau- 
sible apologies  for  the  indulgence  of  case  and  in- 
dolence, or  in  schemes  for  the  attainment  of  wealth  ; 
but  affording  mutual  examples  of  self-inquiry,  re- 
proaching themselves  with  the  lukewarmness  of 
exertions  which  some,  perhaps,  had  already  ac- 
counted excessive  ;  and  exciting  each  other  to  more 
animated  and  abundant  labors  in  the  service  of 
their  Lord  and  Master.  Yet  such  is  the  impressive 
sense  which  every  faithful  minister  of  the  Gospel 
entertains  of  his  obligations  and  his  duties,  of  the 
love  of  Christ  and  the  value  of  souls,  of  the  uncer- 
tainty of  opportunity  and  life,  and  the  approach  of 
an  eternal  world,  that  while  many  who  observe 
him  may  imaa:ine  that  he  is  indul^ins:  in  selfcom- 
placency  and  satisfaction  in  the  review  of  his  ex- 
ertions, he  is  in  fact  humbling  himself  before  God, 
and  in  the  confidence  of  private  friendship,  at  the 
recollection  of  his  numerous  deficiencies. 

How  well  Mr.  Buchanan  understood  the  nature 
of  true  pastoral  zeal,  together  with  what  he  justly 
calls  '  the  holy  skill  of  preaching;*  how  highly  he 
estimated  both,  and  how  perfectly  he  was  acquaint- 
ed with  the  means  by  which  they  may  be  cultivated 
and  beneficially  exercised,  is  evident  from  his  dig- 
nified and  eloquent  observations  upon  those  im- 
portant points.  They  can  scarcely  be  read  without 
15* 


174  MEMOIR   OF    DR.    BUCHANAN. 

producing  a  powerful  conviction  that  personal  pie- 
ty, of  a  vigorous  and  exalted  character,  must  form 
the  basis  of  any  reasonable  hope  of  success  as  a 
preacher  of  the  Gospel ;  that  it  is  "  the  heart  of  the 
wise,"  which  must  communicate  persuasion  to  his 
lips ;  and  that  it  is  the  "  doctrine  and  the  life  coin- 
cident," which  can  alone  be  expected  to  constitute 
the  divine  art  of  wiiming  souls  to  God. 

The  humility  which  breathes  throughout  the 
whole  letter,  the  disinterestedness  of  the  writer's 
views,  the  ardent  desire  which  he  expresses  of 
more  decisive  usefulness,  and  the  obscure  intima- 
tion of  a  purpose,  which  was  gradually  becoming 
more  definite  and  mature,  of  endeavoring  more 
effectually  to  promote  the  extension  of  the  Re- 
deemer's kingdom  in  the  East,  cannot  fail  to  be 
observed  by  every  thoughtful  reader ;  and  while 
they  serve  to  illustrate  the  character  of  Mr.  Bucha- 
nan, and  the  principles  which  he  professed,  are 
well  calculated  to  excite  others  to  the  imitation  of 
such  an  example. 

A  few  days  after  the  date  of  the  preceding  letter, 
Mr.  Buchanan  wrote  to  Mr.  Grant  as  follows  : 

"  Mr.  Brown  and  his  family  have  been  on  the 
river  for  their  health  for  five  or  six  weeks  past. 
Our  churches  during  this  cold  season  are  more 
crowded  than  I  ever  saw  them  before.  Even  on 
Wednesday  evening  there  are  a  great  number. 


AT    CALCUTTA.  175 

and  craod  is  done.    Some  of  the  students  attend  on 

o 

that  evening.  Their  presence  warms  the  heart  of 
old  Mr.  Obeck.  They  know  and  visit  him.  '  How 
would  Mr.  Grant  rejoice,'*  he  sometimes  says,  'to 
see  these  things  !'  The  pillars  are  removed,  and  a 
number  of  additional  seats  made,  to  accommodate 
the  many  who  come." 

On  the  20th  of  January,  1S02,  it  appears,  by  a 
brief  memorandum,  that  Mr.  Buchanan,  in  taking 
liis  usual  evening's  exercise,  suffered  a  severe  fall 
from  his  horse.  "  He  came  down,"  he  says,  "  at 
full  gallop,  and  I  was  thrown  over  his  head  and 
stunned.  He  seemed  to  tumble  over  me.  Mercy  ! 
mercy  !" 

Though  Mr.  Buchanan  complained  for  several 
weeks  of  the  effects  of  his  fall,  he  was  sufficiently 
recovered  to  preach,  yet  not  without  much  weak- 
ness and  pain,  the  next  evening. 

During  the  whole  of  this  month  Mr.  Buchanan 
was  employed  in  making  various  arrangements 
preparatory  to  the  anniversary  of  the  commence- 
ment of  the  college  on  the  6th  of  February.  On 
that  day  public  disputations  were  held  in  the  Per- 

*  For  the  history  of  the  mission  church,  and  of  the  pecu- 
liar interest  which  Mr.  Grant  would  feel  in  its  prosperity, 
the  reader  is  referred  to  the  "  Memorial  Sketches  "  of  Mr. 
Brown. 


176  MEMOIR   OF    DR.    BUCHANAN. 

sian,  Bengalee,  and  Hindostanee  languages,  in  the 
presence  of  the  supreme  council  and  many  other 
distinguished  persons  ;  the  jirizes  and  honorary  re- 
wards adjudged  at  the  preceding  examinations 
were  distributed,  and  a  speech  was  delivered  by 
Sir  George  Barlow,  the  acting  visiter  in  the  ab- 
sence of  Marquis  Wellesley  ;  in  which,  after  ex- 
pressing his  satisfaction  at  the  zeal  and  ability  of 
the  officers  and  professors  of  the  college  in  ihedis- 
charcre  of  their  public  duties,  and  at  the  dislin- 
guished  proficiency  of  many  of  the  students,  as 
well  as  their  exemplary  conduct,  he  observed  that 
the  establishment  of  the  college  had  already  excited 
a  general  and  most  beneficial  attention  to  oriental 
languages,  literature,  and  knowledge  ;  and  avowed 
his  conviction,  that  by  diligently  availing  them- 
selves of  the  advantages  afforded  by  the  institution, 
the  students  would  enjoy  the  animating  prospect 
of  being  eminently  useful  to  their  country,  by  aid- 
ing it  in  fulfilling  the  high  moral  obligations  attend- 
ant on  the  possession  of  its  Indian  empire  ;  on  the 
discharge  of  which  the  prosperity  and  permanence 
of  that  empire  must  equally  depend. 

The  various  occupations,  however,  of  Mr.  Bu- 
chanan did  not  induce  him  to  forget  his  friends  in 
Europe.  Early  in  the  year  1S02  his  income  being 
now  considerably  augmented,  he,  with  that  filial 
piety  which  marked  his  character,  authorized  his 
mother  to  draw  upon  his  agents  for  the  sum  of 
three  hundred  pounds  annually. 


AT    CALCUTTA.  177 

With  Mrs.  Biiclianan,  whose  arrival  in  England 
has  been  mentioned,  he  maintained  a  frequent  cor- 
respondence. In  one  of  his  letters  he  gave  lier  an 
interesting  sketch  of  his  early  life,  some  circum- 
stances of  which  he  does  not  appear  to  have  pre- 
viously communicated  to  her,  and  which  he  observ- 
ed might  form  a  good  commentary  on  Isaiah  42  :  IG. 
"  I  will  bring  the  blind  by  a  way  that  they  knew 
not,  I  will  lead  them  in  paths  that  they  have  not 
known :  I  will  make  darkness  light  before  them, 
and  crooked  things  straight.  These  things  will  I 
do  unto  them,  and  not  forsake  them." 

Having  brought  down  his  history  to  the  time  at 
which  he  was  writing,  he  concludes  with  the  fol- 
lowing reflections  on  his  present  views  and  pur- 
poses, the  piety,  beauty,  and  affection  of  which  can- 
not but  be  generally  admired  : 

"  Such,  my  dearest  Mary,  has  been  my  varied 
life,  and  such  the  wonderful  providence  which  has 
watched  over  me  during  so  long  a  period.  I  pray 
that,  now  I  am  settled,  I  may  be  enabled  to  show  a 
heart  fixed  on  my  Saviour,  and  on  the  ministration 
of  his  word.  I  feel  that  nothing  in  this  world  can 
afford  me  any  delight  equal  to  what  I  hope  to  find 
in  the  labor  of  the  everlasting  Gospel.  No  fortune 
or  rank  in  life  can  ever,  I  think,  give  any  solid 
comfort  to  my  soul :  nothing  but  heavenly  draughts 
can  quench  my  thirst. 


178  MEMOIR    OF    DR.    BUCHANAN. 

"  My  infirm  constitution  aclmonislies  me  not  to 
expect  to  enjoy  life,  as  some  speak,  and  I  am 
thankful  for  every  barrier  vvliich  God  erects  against 
my  taking  up  my  lest  in  this  wilderness.  Let  U9 
then,  my  dear  Mary,  live  for  the  day,  seeking  that 
heavenly  peace  which  is  always  attainable.  We 
have  learnt  from  our  past  experience,  that  *  our 
times  are  in  his  hands,'  and  we  shall  confess  at  the 
end  that  '  He  hath  done  all  things  well.' 

"  I  feel  a  deep  sense  of  the  importance  of  my 
present  situation,  and  of  the  necessity  of  using  the 
tabnt  committed  to  my  charge  ;  the  uncertainty  of 
having  such  an  useful  sphere  of  action  much  long- 
er, or  my  health  continued,  or  my  reputation  sup- 
ported ;  these  things  excite  me  to  greater  exertions 
while  it  is  called  '  to-day.' 

**  The  society  of  religious  people  here  pray  that 
I  may  be  enabled  to  do  something  for  the  Gospel. 
I  am  now  in  better  health  than  formerly.  My  spi- 
rits are  more  alive.  My  desires  after  a  regular  life 
increase,  and  I  trust  my  hopes  in  the  Gospel  will 
be  fulfilled.  You,  my  beloved  wife,  can  now  pray  in 
faith  :  a  sense  of  religion  has  visited  you.  Che- 
rish it  as  the  life  of  your  soul.  Esteem  it  the  pearl 
of  great  price,  far  exceeding  in  value  the  joys  of 
your  family,  or  the  wealth  of  the  Indies.  I  know 
that  gay  society  at  home  will  impede  your  progress 
for  awhile,  but  these  difficulties  are  useful  in  prov- 
ing and  trying  us,  and  bringing  us  forth  like  gold 


AT   CALCUTTA.  179 

purified  in  the  fiie.  It  is  not  precisciiess  of  exter- 
nal c<tiiclnct,  but  communion  with  God  in  prayer 
which  forms  the  christian's  character.  If  you  con- 
tinue to  approach  tlie  throne  of  grace  witli  as  much 
earnestness  as  you  used  when  on  the  great  waters, 
you  will  gradually  arrive  at  a  holy  state  of  mind, 
pui^  satisfaction  of  soul,  and  inexpressible  delight 
in  the  contemplation  of  the  Gospel.  Christ  will  be 
formed  in  you,  and  you  will  begin  to  learn  the 
breadth,  and  length,  and  height,  and  depth  of  his 
unsearchable  riches, 

'*  All  you  have  to  do  is  to  give  your  testimony  to 
the  truth  of  real  religion,  when  opportunities  shall 
be  afforded,  in  modesty  and  simplicity;  alleging 
that  the  Gospel  is  not  m  form,  but  in  power  ;  and 
that  we  must  all  suffer  a  change  of  heart  before 
we  can  enter  the  kingdom  of  God.  This  is  the 
truth  which  I  maintain  in  my  preaching,  and  it  is 
found  to  be  the  only  effectual  doctrine  to  reach  the 
hearts  of  men." 

The  close  of  this  truly  interesting  letter  affords 
a  most  substantial  proof  of  the  practical  infiuence 
of  Mr.  Buchanan's  principles,  and  of  the  sincerity 
of  the  religious  professions  and  purposes  which 
precede  it : 

"  By  the  last  ships  I  s^t  four  hundred  pounds 
to  Mr.  H.  Thornton,  being  the  amount  of  his  ex- 
pense on  my  own  account  at  college  for  four  years, 


180  MEMOIR    OF    DR.    BUCHANAN, 

at  one  hundred  pounds  per  annum.  He  never  ex* 
pected  that  I  should  repay  him,  but  God  has  put  it 
in  my  power,  and  therefore  it  is  my  duty. 

"  I  told  him  I  only  sent  it  back  to  the  fountain 
from  whence  it  would  probably  soon  flow  again  iu 
some  act  of  benevolence. 

"  I  also  sold  him  that  I  meant  to  devote  five  hun- 
dred pounds  for  the  support  of  a  young  man  at  the 
university,  of  religious  character  and  good  ability, 
who  might  be  in  poor  circumstances,  and  whom 
he,  or  Mr.  Newton,  or  Dr.  Milner,  president  of 
Queen's  college,  should  select.  At  the  same  time 
I  remitted  an  order  on  Messrs.  Boehm  &  Co.  to 
Mr.  T.  for  paying  the  sum  of  6£125  per  annum,  by 
half  yearly  instalments,  for  this  purpose  :  and  I  ex- 
pressed a  wish  that  the  young  man  might  prove  an 
honor  to  the  Gospel,  and  become  an  useful  laborer 
in  his  Master's  vineyard. 

''  While  it  is  in  my  power,  I  wish  to  do  some 
good  thing  for  the  Gospel  of  my  blessed  Lord.  1 
may  soon  be  called  hence.  May  I  be  able  to  de- 
vote my  heart  to  his  glory  while  I  stay ! 

"  May  we  be  grateful  stewards  of  God's  bless- 
ings, so  abundant  and  unlooked  for !  And  may  we 
continue  daily  to  remember  the  wonderful  way  in 
which  we  have  been  led  from  our  early  years  to 
this  day !"  • 

Various  motives  might  have  suggested  to  many 


AT  CALCUTTA.  ISl 

men,  possessed  of  lucrative  appointments,  the  pro- 
priety of  restoring  to  a  patron  the  sum  which  might 
have  been  expended  in  preparing  them  for  their 
stations.  Such  a  step,  however,  might  not  have 
Deen  distinguished  by  promptness,  and  still  less  by 
any  act  of  spontaneous  liberality.  In  both  these 
respects  the  conduct  of  Mr.  Buchanan  was  of  a 
very  elevated  and  generous  character.  It  was  but 
a  short  time  that  he  had  enjoyed  an  abundant  in- 
come ;  he  had  already  two  children,  for  whom  he 
could  as  yet  have  made  but  very  little  provision; 
he  was  affording  a  liberal  allowance  to  his  mother; 
his  own  health  was  precarious,  and  that  of  his 
wife  was  subjecting  him  to  the  expense  of  a  voy- 
age to  England,  with  a  view  to  her  return  to  In- 
dia ;  the  principal  source  of  his  emoluments  was  of 
an  uncertain  nature,  and  had,  in  fact,  though  then 
unknown  to  him,  been  already  considerably  dimi- 
nished. Gratitude,  however,  to  his  earthly  bene- 
factor, and  love  to  his  divine  Lord  and  Master,  in- 
duced him,  notvv'ithstanding  many  plausible  mo- 
tives at  least  to  defer  his  purpose,  at  once  to  dis- 
charge a  debt  of  kindness,  and  to  fulfil  a  truly 
christian  design  ;  and  under  these  impressions  he 

communicated  to  Mr.  Thornton  the  arrancrement 

o 

which  has  been  already  detailed.  The  sense  which 
that  gentleman  entertained  of  Mr.  Buchanan's  con- 
duct was  probably  expressed  in  a  letter  to  him- 

Buchanan.  16 


182  MEMOIR    OF    DR.    BUCHANAN. 

self:  but  the  only  memorial  of  it  which  remains  is 
in  the  following  letter  to  a  mutual  friend  : 

"  London,  Dec.  24,  1802. 

"  Dear  Sir, — I  called  at  your  house  the  other 
day,  and  if  I  had  met  with  you  I  should  have  in- 
formed you  of  the  letter  which  I  have  received 
from  Mr.  Buchanan.  He  remits  in  it  iive  hundred 
and  twenty  pounds  ;  of  which  four  hundred  is  in- 
tended as  a  repayment  to  myself  of  the  four  years* 
allowance  which  I  made  to  him  at  college,  and  the 
remaining  sum  is  to  be  applied  in  a  manner  which 
he  directs.  He  moreover  gives  me  a  letter  to  a 
house  in  London,  desiring  them  to  pay  me  an  an- 
nual sum  for  four  years,  for  the  education  of  such 
young  man  for  the  ministry  as  I,  Mr.  Newton,  and 
Dr.  Milner  may  select. 

''  I  am  not  quite  clear  whether  Mr.  Buchanan,  at 
the  time  of  writing  the  letter,  was  apprised  of  all 
that  diminution  of  his  income  v/hich  the  orders  sent 
out  from  hence  for  suspending  the  institution  of  the 
college  will  produce  *,  and  I  feel  some  doubt,  on 
this  account,  whether  either  to  take  or  to  keep  the 
four  hundred  pounds.  I  shall  thank  you  for  any  in- 
formation on  this  point  which  you  may  possess;  as 
well  as  for  the  mention  of  any  promising  young 
man  for  education  at  college,  with  a  view  to  the 
ministiy  of  the  church.  I  would  also  request  you 
to  take  some  occasion  of  expressing  to  Mr.  Bu- 


AT    CALCUTTA.  183 

clianaii  tlie  satisfaction  which  1  felt  at  tliis  mark  of 
integrity,  or  of  something  more  than  integrity,  as  I 
ouglit  to  temi  it,  in  his  conduct.  It  has  raised  him 
in  the  opinion  both  of  myself  and  others,  and  it  will 
not,  as  I  am  persuaded,  be  one  of  the  acts  of  which 
he  will  repent  whenever  he  may  come  to  die.  For 
my  own  part  I  shall  always  hold  that  his  children 
will  have  some  claim  upon  me  in  consequence  of 
the  return  of  this  money,  in  the  event  of  their  fall- 
ing into  pecuniary  difficulties ;  and  Pioyidence,  I 
am  well  persuaded,  is  wont  to  provide  for  those 
who,  without  robbing  or  neglecting  their  own 
household,  avoid  the  common  eagerness  to  lay  up 
for  them. 

"  I  am,  dear  sir,  yours  sincerely, 

"  H.  Thornton." 

It  may  be  satisfactory  to  add  to  the  preceding 
letter,  that  Mr.  Buchanan's  liberal  offer  was  ac- 
cepted ;  and  that  a  young  man,  approved  by  the 
three  friends  to  whom  the  selection  was  referred, 
was  aftenvards  supported  during  the  usual  term 
of  residence  at  the  University  of  Cambridge;  who 
is  now  filling  with  ability  and  credit  a  very  useful 
station  in  the  church. 

While  the  members  of  the  college  of  Fort  Wil- 
liam were  zealously  and  successfully  occupied  in 
the  prosecution  of  their  labors,  the  Governor  Ge- 
neral in  council,  on  the  15th  of  June,  1802,  receiv- 


1S4  MEMOIR    OF    DR.    BUCHANAN 

ed  with  the  utmost  concern  the  commands  of  the 
Court  of  Directors  for  the  immediate  aholition  of  that 
important  institution.  On  the  22d  following,  Lord 
Wellesley  communicated  this  despatch  to  Mr.  Bu- 
chanan, who,  in  common  with  every  other  friend 
of  the  college,  deeply  lamented  this  unexpected 
determination ;  and  directed  him  to  consider  of  a 
reply  to  the  reasons  upon  which  it  was  professedly 
orrounded.    The  Governor  General  was  at  all  times 

o 

fully  competent  to  the  defence  of  his  own  measures, 
though  he  might,  and  probably  did,  avail  himself  of 
the  talents  and  information  of  those  around  him 
upon  every  great  question.  It  is  sufficient  to  ob- 
serve that,  in  a  letter*  to  the  chairman  of  the  Court 
of  Directors,  dated  the  5th  of  August,  1802,  cha- 
racterized by  the  same  ability  which  had  distin- 
guished his  minute  in  council,  Marquis  Wellesley 
submitted  to  the  Court  a  general  view  of  the  prin- 
ciples by  which  his  conduct  had  been  regulated  re- 
lative to  the  establishment  of  the  college,  and  of 
the  measures  which  he  had  pursued  on,  what  his 
lordship  termed,  the  present  ''  most  painful  and 
afflicting  occasion." 

In  directinsf  the  immediate  abolition  of  the  col- 

o 

lege  of  Fort  William,  the  Governor  General  ob- 
served, the  letter  of  the  honorable  Court  appeared 
to  acknowledge  with  approbation  the  liberal  and 

♦  See  "  The  College  of  Fort  William,"  p.  65. 


AT    CALCUTTA.  185 

e-nligbtened  spirit  of  the  institution,  the  just  prin- 
ciples t)n  wliich  it  was  founded,  and  the  im])oitant 
ends  to  wliich  it  was  directed.  The  objections 
stated  by  the  Court  against  the  continuance  of  the 
establishment  were  apparently  confined  to  its  ex- 
pense, and  to  the  pressure  of  that  charge  on  the 
])resent  circumstances  of  the  Company's  finances 
in  India.  The  iirst  object  therefore  of  Lord  Wel- 
lesley  wa«,  by  a  minute  detail  of  facts,  to  convince 
the  Court  that  the  expenses  already  incurred  on 
account  of  the  college  had  not  been  more  consider- 
able than  was  required  by  the  magnitude  of  the 
objects  proposed  by  the  institution ;  that  those 
expenses  had  been  actually  defrayed  by  new  re- 
sources destined  to  that  express  purpose  ;  and  that 
provision  had  been  secured  for  defraying  the  future 
current  expenses  of  the  college,  without  interfer- 
ing with  any  other  branch  of  the  public  service, 
and  without  diminishing  the  scale  of  their  com- 
mercial investments. 

It  appeared,  however,  to  be  manifestly  the  inten- 
tion of  the  Court  of  Directors  that  some  establish- 
ment for  the  better  instruction  of  the  civil  sen'ants 
at  each  of  the  presidencies  should  subsist  in  India; 
the  outlines  of  which  had  been  traced  in  their  let- 
ter to  the  Governor  General.  His  lordship,  there- 
fore, next  proceeded  to  compare  the  actual  ex- 
pense and  ascertained  benefit  of  the  institution 
then  subsisting  at  Fort  William,  with  the  probable 
16* 


186  MEMOIR    OF    DR.    BUCHANAN. 

expense  and  probable  benefit  of  the  seminaries  by 
which  the  Court  intended  to  supersede  that  insti- 
tution. The  result  of  this  comparison  was  stated 
to  be,  that  the  necessary  effect  of  the  latter  plan 
would  be  to  involve  the  expense  of  a  triple  esta- 
blishment for  every  branch  of  study  alike  requi- 
site at  each  of  the  three  presidencies,  which  must 
equal,  and  would  probably  exceed,  the  total  current 
charges,  on  the  highest  estimate,  of  the  college  of 
Fort  Wdliam. 

The  Governor  General  further  directed  the  par- 
ticular attention  of  the  court  to  the  benefits  already 
derived  to  their  civil  service  from  the  operation 
and  effect  of  the  system  of  study  and  discipline 
constituted  and  enforced  by  the  college  of  Fort 
William.  The  general  progress  of  the  students,  his 
lordship  declared,  in  the  oriental  languages  and  li- 
terature, had  exceeded  the  most  sanguine  expecta- 
tions of  the  examiners,  who  had  always  been  se- 
lected from  the  ablest  oriental  scholars  actually  at 
Calcutta,  and  whose  voluntary  aid  had  been  afford- 
ed to  support  the  discipline,  and  to  improve  the 
course  of  study  and  the  mode  of  instruction  pur- 
sued in  the  institution.  A  spirit  of  emulation  had 
been  excited  among  the  students,  as  unexampled 
in  its  scope  and  ardor,  as  it  was  propitious  to  the 
future  government  of  India.  The  institution  had 
already  corrected  many  of  the  defects  which  Lord 
Wellesley  had  found  in  the  younger  branches  of 


AT    CALCUTTA.  187 

the  civil  service  upon  his  arrival  in  India,  and  had 
reclaimed  to  "industrious  and  laborious  pursuits 
many  of  the  junior  servants  who  were  disposed 
to  pursue  courses  of  a  contrary  tendency.  That  a 
general  disposition  to  economy  and  regularity  then 
prevailed  among  the  students  ;  that  principles  of 
due  subordination  had  also  been  established  among 
them  with  the  happiest  success ;  and  that  the 
young  men  then  composing  the  body  of  the  stu- 
dents at  Fort  William  afforded  the  most  auspicious 
hope  that  the  local  administration  of  India,  for  se- 
veral years  to  come,  would  be  amply  provided  with 
instruments  properly  qualified  to  accomplish  all 
the  purposes  of  a  wise,  just,  and  benevolent  go- 
vernment. 

Though  these  and  other  considerations  might 
have  induced  the  Governor  General  to  suspend  the 
execution  of  the  order  for  the  abolition  of  the  col- 
lege, and  to  refer  the  question  to  the  further  plea- 
sure of  the  court,  the  peculiar  character  and  spirit 
of  its  commands,  and  the  nature  of  the  institution, 
seemed  to  require  their  immediate  execution.  To 
this  his  lordship  accordingly  proceeded ;  but  in  ful- 
filling this  painful  duty  a  most  serious  and  difficult 
question  arose  with  regard  to  the  time  when  the 
abolition  of  the  college  should  take  effect.  The  de- 
termination of  this  question  involved  principles  so 
deeply  affecting  the  welfare,  future  prospects,  and 
just  expectations  of  the  students,  and  also  the  con- 


188  MEMOIR   OF    DR.    BUCHANAN. 

sideration  due  to  the  situation  of  tlie  professors  and 
teachers,  and  of  the  numerous  learned  natives  at- 
tached to  the  institution,  that  Lord  Wellesley  felt 
himself  compelled  to  declare  that  the  abolition  of 
the  college  of  Fort  William  must  be  gradual;  and 
that  the  institution  should  not  terminate  previously 
to  the  31st  of  December,  1S03,  when  the  great 
body  of  the  students  then  attached  to  the  college 
would  have  coinpleted  the  course  which  they  had 
so  successfully  commenced.  His  loi'dship  finally 
observed,  that  he  had  been  partly  induced  to  pro- 
tract the  existence  of  the  institution,  from  the  hope 
that  his  preceding  representation  might  prove  the 
means  of  inducing  the  Court  of  Directors  to  review 
their  late  orders,  and  to  restore  to  their  civil  ser- 
vice in  India  the  inestimable  advantages  which 
must  be  destroyed  by  the  destruction  of  the  college, 
and  to  suffer  it  to  remain  unaltered  until  he  should 
have  the  opportunity  of  reporting  in  person  to  the 
court  the  condition  and  elfects  of  the  institution, 
and  of  submitting  to  them  such  details  as  might 
enable  them  to  exercise  their  final  judgment  on 
the  whole  plan. 

In  the  spring  of  this  year  Mr.  Buchanan  receiv- 
ed letters  from  his  wife,  whose  health  appeared  to 
be  considerably  restored  by  her  visit  to  her  native  ' 
country,  announcing  her  intention  of  leaving  Eng- 
land in  the  month  of  January.  "  This,"  said  he, 
in  a  letter  to  the  friend  in  whose  family  she  had 


AT    CALCUTTA.  189 

resided  some  months  during  her  visit,  "  was  joyful 
intelHgence  to  me.  In  two  or  three  months  hence, 
I  may  be  blessed  with  seeing  her  again.  When  she 
mentions  her  affectionate  intimacy  with  your  fa- 
mily, she  writes  in  tears.  But  I  see  evidently  that 
it  is  the  Gospel  union  which  so  powerfully  awak- 
ens her  heart  in  speaking  of  the  happiness  of  her 
residing  with  you.  I  expect  that  she  will  do  good 
in  Carmarthen,  and  I  hope  she  will  do  good  in 
Calcutta.  She  comes  out  to  a  promising  scene  of 
joy  ;  to  see  her  little  Augusta,  now  grown  up  a 
healthy  and  talkative  girl  ;  calling  out  for  mamma 
for  two  years  past  in  vain.  And  she  comes  out  to 
many  who  love  and  respect  her,  and  to  some  who 
have  learnt  durino-  her  absence  to  love  '  the  excel- 

o 

lent  of  the  earth.' 

"  I  have  now  a  house  in  the  country,  about  three 
miles  from  Calcutta,  on  the  banks  of  the  river, 
where  she  may  sleep  occasionally,  and  retire  from 
company.  I  spend  three  or  four  solitary  evenings 
every  week  in  Garden  Reach.  The  change  of  place 
and  air  refreshes  me  for  the  labors  of  the  succeed- 
ing day.  Augusta  and  I  play  together  in  the  groves, 
and  then  return  by  water  to  Calcutta.  A  gentle- 
man leaving  India  sent  me  his  boat  as  a  present  to 
Mary  when  she  comes  out.  I  find  the  river  air  very 
salutary  and  renovating,  and  perhaps  she  will  find 
it  so  too.  But  our  pleasures  at  Clapham  or  on  the 
Ganges  are  transitory.    May  they  be  so  tempered 


190  MEMOIR    OP    DR.    BUCIIANAIV. 

with  prayer  as  to  prepare  us  both  for  the  pleasures 
of  that  '  other  country,'  where  there  will  be  no  se- 
paration, and  where  the  inhabitants  will  never  say, 
*  I  am  sick  !'  Mrs.  B,  mentions  the  circumstances 
of  your  illness  with  a  lively  concern  mingled  with 
a  sensation  of  pleasure.  Her  hours  passed  by  your 
sick  couch  were  delightful.  Providence  hath  well 
ordered  her  steps.  It  may  be,  indeed,  that  I  shall 
never  see  her  ;  or  that  I  shall  contemplate  her  de- 
parting spirit  for  a  short  time  in  her  emaciated 
frame.  But  then  God  hath  made  with  her  a  cove- 
nant well  ordered  and  sure!  Thus  it  is  with  my 
house.  And  this  is  my  joy.  Thus  God  hath  blessed 
our  short  sojourn  together  ;  and  the  end  will  be  an 
eternal  song  of  glory  to  his  redeeming  love  !" 

Though  the  fears  which  Mr.  Buchanan  express- 
es with  so  much  tenderness  and  piety  as  to  the 
probably  short  period  of  his  reunion  with  his  wife 
were  but  too  well  founded,  it  is  pleasing  to  reflect 
that  he  was  gratified  by  again  seeing  her  in  India. 
She  embarked  on  board  the  Carmarthen  in  the 
month  of  February  ;  and,  as  Mr.  Buchanan  had 
anticipated,  the  piety  of  her  mind  was  displayed 
during  the  voyage  by  her  endeavors  to  promote 
the  religious  improvement  of  two  young  ladies, 
one  of  whom  had  been  placed  under  her  protec- 
tion. Mrs.  Buchanan  had  a  more  favorable  voyage 
than  in  returning  to  Europe,  and  arrived  safely  at 
Calcutta  on  the  24th  of  August. 


AT    CALCUTTA.  191 

The  remainder  of  the  letter,  from  which  an  in- 
teresting passage  respecting  Mrs.  Buchanan  has 
just  been  extracted,  is  occupied  with  the  import- 
ant subject  of  the  college  of  Fort  William  ;  in 
wliich,  though  some  things  occur  similar  to  those 
which  have  been  already  stated  from  the  public 
letter  of  Lord  Wellesley,  many  additional  facts  and 
sentiments  are  contained,  more  particularly  with 
reference  to  Mr.  Buchanan  himself,  which  it  may 
be  proper  to  inseit. 

"  You  say,"  he  continues,  "  that  you  hear  the 
college  is  abolished.  It  has  been  long  abolished  in 
London,  but  it  still  exists  here,  in  greater  spirit 
and  utility  than  ever ;  and  it  must  continue  to  ex- 
ist (though  perhaps  under  a  different  name)  as 
long  as  the  British  empire  reigns  in  India.  To 
send  a  young  man  adrift  in  the  upper  provinces, 
without  any  knowledge  of  the  languages,  and  with- 
out any  ofllicial  preparation,  is  now  utterly  impos- 
sible. The  good  sense  of  young  men  themselves 
would  deprecate  it.  Every  one  here  sees  that  the 
body  of  civil  servants  educated  these  three  years 
in  the  college  of  Fort  William  will  by  and  by  gov- 
ern India.  INIany  of  them  are  already  approaching 
to  the  most  responsible  situations.  The  body  of 
juniors  that  follow,  if  left  in  their  native  ignorance, 
will  be  held  in  comparative  contempt,  and  must 
ever  feel  the  injustice  done  to  them. 


192  MEMOIR    OF    DR.    BUCHANAN. 

"  The  directors  wish  the  institution  to  be  called 
a  seminary,  and  then  they  will  support  it.  I  have 
no  objection  to  the  name,  provided  that  the  young 
men  are  taught ;  and  they  must  be  taught  in  future. 
You  might  as  well  think  of  abolisliing  the  schools 
in  London,  as  abolishing  schools  in  Calcutta.  Thus 
much  then  has  been  effected  by  the  institution  of 
ihe  college.  Education  has  been  proved  to  be  use- 
ful in  India.  Of  the  students  who  have  just  left 
college,  only  eight  out  of  thirty  have  contracted  any 
debt.  Many  of  them  have  saved  money  ;  a  thing 
unheard  of  in  India,  and  by  the  old  civil  servants 
accounted  impossible.  This  is  the  point  to  which 
the  public  attention  is  turned.  The  reign  of  na- 
tive money  lenders  is  now  at  an  end.  But  a  school 
or  seminary  directed  by  native  moonshees,  and  des- 
titute of  the  high  and  respectable  jurisdiction  of 
learned  and  religious  men,  would  never  be  able  to 
effect  this  desirable  purpose.  The  authority  and 
the  honors  of  a  college  are  alone  competent  to  re- 
strain a  body  of  young  men  of  good  famihes  and 
flattering  prospects  in  this  luxurious  and  deteriora- 
ting country.  That  ever  such  an  objection  as  that 
of  expense  should  have  been  urged  by  the  direc- 
tors appears  to  me  unaccountable.  The  expense, 
whatever  it  has  l;een,  is  now  amply  liquidated  ; 
and  in  a  manner  more  favorable  to  the  interests  of 
the  Company  than  if  the  sum  had  been  paid  into 
their  treasury  ;    with  some  advantage  of  health,  of 


AT  CALCUTTA.  193 

morals,  and  of  learning,  and  with  some  coercion  of 
the  native  ascendancy,  which  has  ever  been  deemed 
the  bane  of  the  British  administration  in  India. 

"  Satisfied,  however,  with  the  good  which  has 
been  done  by  the  institution,  we  wait  submissively 
for  the  period  of  its  regular  dissolution ;  which 
will  be  in  December  next.  Even  were  it  to  con- 
tinue in  its  present  state,  or  in  one  yet  more  im- 
])roved  and  respectable,  I  should  not  desire  to  bear 
apart  in  it.  I  have  weak  health.  My  heart  seeks 
to  be  disengaged  from  collegiate  labors,  and  to  find 
rest  and  refreshm.ent  in  the  one  spiritual  work  of 
the  everlasting  Gospel.  Fortune  or  fame  cannot 
add  an  hour's  happiness  to  my  present  existence  ; 
but  they  may  inteiTupt  it.  I  feel  a  secret  pleasure 
in  the  purpose  of  the  directors  to  abolish  the  col- 
lege, as  it  respects  myself ;  but  I  feel  at  the  same 
time  that  its  continuance  under  other  men  would  be 
favorable  to  ray  evangelical  labors  in  this  country. 

"  In  perfect  confidence,  therefore,  that  God  will 
order  all  things  aright,  in  time,  manner,  and  event, 
1  implore  the  direction  of  his  Spirit  to  improve 
'  the  passing  day.'  My  chief  source  of  despondency 
at  times  is  the  want  of  fellow-laborers,  of  learned 
and  serious  men,  in  this  vineyard,  where  there  is 
so  numerous  a  body  of  well  educated  young  men. 

"  I  would  willingly  at  this  moment  give  50,000 
rupees  for  two  religious  and  respectable  young 
men  established  in  the  church  of  Calcutta,  and  ca- 

Buclianan.  * ' 


194  MEMOIR    OF    DR.    BUCHANAN". 

pable  of  conducting  the  studies  of  the  college.  Fore- 
seeing where  we  were  likely  to  fail,  I  took  early 
measures  to  procure  such  from  home,  both  by  ad- 
dressing Lord  Wellesley  and  by  writing  myself. 
But  we  have  not  succeeded.  But  this  also  is  direct- 
ed by  an  all- wise  providence  ;  and  he  will  accom- 
plish his  glory  by  any  means." 

The  number  of  Mr.  Buchanan's  coirespondents 
was  this  year  increased  by  the  return  to  Europe 
of  Major  Sandys,  who,  in  a  season  of  severe  domes- 
tic affliction,  had  been  led  to  search  the  Scriptures 
for  consolation  ;  and  to  whom  the  preaching  of  Mr. 
Brown  and  Mr.  Buchanan  had  been  blessed  as  the 
means  of  brins^ins^  him  to  the  knowledge  of  the 
Gospel,  from  the  proud  holds  of  philosophical  in- 
fidelity. To  this  gentleman,  with  whom  Mr.  Bu- 
chanan afterwards  maintained  an  uninterrupted  and 
affectionate  intercourse,  he  wrote,  in  the  month  of 
June,  as  follows  : 

"  I  suppose  you  will  have  seen  all  your  friends 
by  this  time,  and  settled  your  plans.  I  am  anxious 
to  know  how  you  find  yourself  after  a  year's  resi- 
dence in  England.  We  do  as  usual  in  Calcutta. 
Serious  religion  appears  to  increase.  Mr.  Obeck  is 
yet  alive,  but  declining  fast.  He  begs  his  blessing 
on  you,  whom  he  calls  '  a  young  man,'  and  wishes 
you  a  long  christian  life.  You  are  quite  forgotten 
by  the  gay  world  here,  even ,  by  those  who  used  to 


AT    CALCUTTA.  195 

feast  with  you  sometimes.  Those  who  are  always 
asking  me  about  you  are  the  poor  people  who 
knew  you  but  half  a  year. 

"  .  .  .  .  and  ....  are  laboring  at  their  docks 
and  accounts,  thinking  often  of  England,  and  some- 
times of  another  world. 

"  The  whole  settlement  is  at  present  in  agita- 
tion, giving  Lord  \V.  a  public  entertainment.  The 
hawk  as  usual  on  the  steeple  looks  down  in  amaze- 
ment at  the  bustle.    It  costs  sixty  thousand  rupees. 

"  ....  is  sick.  He  has  had  many  attacks.  She 
seeks  comfort  at  church  ;  and  he  begins  to  think, 
perhaps,  that  he  can  obtain  it  no  where  else. 

"  But  your  interest  in  all  these  Calcutta  matters 
will  weaken  every  month.  That  the  Gospel  is  ho- 
nored will  be  to  you  the  most  welcome  and  the 
most  interesting  news.     Adieu,  my  dear  Sandys." 

The  followinsr  is  an  extract  from  a  second  letter 

o 

of  Mr.  Buchanan  to  Major  Sandys,  dated  early  in 
September : 

"  Your  letter  from  St.  Helena  I  have  just  re- 
ceived by  Mrs.  Buchanan,  who  arrived  there  the 
day  after  you  had  sailed.  Mary  is  much  improved 
in  health,  and  greatly  matured  in  spiritual  know- 
ledge, strength,  and  grace,  which  is  the  chief  theme 
of  my  happiness.  Her  missing  you  was  a  keen  dis- 
appointment at  the  moment.  But  she  soon  reflected 


196  MEMOIR   OP   DR.    BUCHAXAN. 

that  God  had  ordered  it  for  wise  and  gracious  pur- 
poses, and  then  she  submitted  She  opened  your 
letters  to  me  which  she  found  at  Major  Greentree's. 
These  letters  astonished  her  beyond  measure.  She 
thought  that  you  had  yet  been  a  man  of  the  world, 
(for  she  had  not  heard  that  your  affliction  had  been 
sanctified  to  you,)  but  behold  she  found  you  to  be  a 
child  of  God  ;  your  understanding  illuminated  with 
knowledge,  and  your  heart  expanding  with  love, 
hope,  joy,  zeal,  and  all  the  charities.  She  lamented 
that  she  had  no  christian  near  her  to  whom  she 
might,  in  pious  confidence,  communicate  the  happy 
news.  So  she  disburdened  her  heart  by  writing  a 
letter  to  me. 

"  I  was  rejoiced  to  find  by  your  letters  that  the 
Gospel  is  still  glorious  in  your  view,  and  that  the 
world  and  its  vanities  had  not  obscured  the  hea- 
venly vision.  May  this  happy  state  be  ever  yours 
without  alloy  or  reverse,  but  such  as  may  be  neces- 
sary to  confirm,  and  strengthen,  and  perfect  you  in 
the  inner  man." 

By  a  letter  of  the  same  date  as  the  preceding, 
Mr.  Buchanan  communicated  to  Mr.  Elliott  an  af- 
fecting but  consoling  account  of  the  death  of  his 
son,  who,  in  consequence  of  his  distinguished  pro- 
ficiency in  oriental  learning,  had  been  appointed  by 
Marquis  Wellesley  secretary  to  an  embassy  to 
Arabia ;  but  who,  after  having  fulfilled  with  great 


AT    CALCUTTA.  197 

ability  the  duties  of  his  mission,  fell  a  victim  to  a 
fever  in  that  country,  and  as  a  mark  of  peculiar 
honor,  was  interred  in  the  garden  of  the  Imam  of 
Senna. 

To  the  same  friend  Mr.  Buchanan  again  wrote 
in  the  course  of  the  month,  as  follows  : 

"  Your  letter  by  Mrs.  Buchanan  I  received  about 
a  month  ago,  since  which  time  no  ship  for  Europe 
has  sailed.  I  thank  you  for  the  '  Christian  Obser- 
ver.' You  wish  me  to  furnish  some  papers  for  it. 
Mr.  Thornton  wrote  to  me  on  the  same  subject ;  but 
I  answered  him  that  my  present  avocations  will  not 
permit  it.  A  period  of  leisure  may  perhaps  soon  be 
granted  to  me.  But  this  is  not  the  only  objection  to 
my  furnishing  you  with  the  life  of  Mr.  Swartz.  He 
left  no  papers  ;  and  those  persons  are  now  removed 
who  could  give  the  best  information.  He  also  de- 
precated posthumous  praise  ;  and  was  in  constant 
dread  of  fame.  He  concealed  often  from  Mr.  Obeck 
(his  only  friend  at  one  time)  his  favored  seasons 
from  on  high. 

"  Mrs.  Buchanan  is  quite  surprised  to  find  so 
'much  vital  religion  amongst  us.  My  responsibility 
in  college  is  greater  at  present  than  formerly  ;  but 
the  answer  of  the  court  will  determine  many 
points  ;  and  as  far  as  relates  to  myself,  they  can- 
not help  determining  them  to  my  satisfaction. 

"  We  are  carrying  on  a  successful  war  against 
17* 


198  MEMOIR    OP    DR.    BUCHANAN. 

the  Mahrattas,  fighting  against  them  in  three  differ- 
ent quarters,  and  obtaining  three  victories  at  the 
same  time.  The  Hindoos  are  happy  that  Jugger- 
naut, their  famous  place  of  worship,  has  fallen  into 
our  hands,  for  our  imposts  will  not  be  so  great  as 
those  of  the  former  possessors  of  the  adjoining 
district."  ^ 

The  occasional  notices  which  have  occurred  in 
Mr.  Buchanan's  letters  respecting  the  pious  and 
excellent  Mr.  Obeck,  have  probably  excited  a  wish 
in  the  minds  of  most  readers  to  know  something 
of  the  closing  scene  of  his  life,  as  well  as  some  far- 
ther particulars  of  his  character.  In  the  month  of 
May  Mr.  Buchanan  thus  wrote  to  Mr.  Grant : 

"  The  departure  of  the  aged  Obeck  appears  to 
be  at  hand — at  least  he  thinks  so,  and  bids  me  im- 
part to  you  his  blessing  while  his  understanding 
remains.  He  was  carried  into  church  last  night, 
(Wednesday's  lecture,)  but  was  so  much  revived 
by  the  service  and  view  of  his  brethren  that  he 
walked  out  with  assistance.  His  only  food  at  pre- 
sent is  bread  dipped  in  wine. 

''  Under  this  decay  of  body  his  mind  is  more  vi- 
gc»rous  than  ever.  He  has,  within  this  last  year,  as- 
sumed a  very  intrepid  tone  in  rebuking  sin,  and 
remonstrating  with  the  lukewarm,  and  in  defining 
a  holy  life  in  India.    But  he  has  great  joy  among 


AT  CALCUTTA.  199 

the  true  disciples,  and  his  spiritual  comforts  have 
of  late  been  abundant." 

Towards  the  end  of  the  month  of  August  follow- 
ing Mr.  Buchanan  thus  describes  to  the  same 
friend  the  progress  of  Mr.  Obeck's  decline  : 

"  The  good  Obeck  is  yet  alive  ;  but  his  loins  are 
girt  for  the  heavenly  journey.  He  is  confined  to  his 
room,  and  cannot  attend  church.  But  the  church 
attends  him.  He  listens  with  delight  to  the  voice 
of  praise  in  the  adjoining  building  on  the  Sunday 
and  Thursday  evenings. 

"  We  have  arranged  all  his  temporal  affairs  to 
his  satisfaction.  He  has  given  us  his  text  for  his 
funeral  sermon ;  in  preaching  which,  I  fear  ray 
spirits  will  fail  me.  It  is  difficult  to  speak  of  the 
deceased,  father  to  the  surviving  children." 

This  venerable  man  was  now  very  fast  approach- 
ing his  end.  Early  in  September  he  felt  a  presenti- 
ment that  he  should  not  live  to  the  close  of  that 
month  ;  and  accordingly,  on  the  24th,  Mr.  Buchanan 
thus  announced  his  death  to  his  respected  friend 
and  benefactor :  , 

"  The  aged  Obeck  has  at  last  departed.  For 
some  weeks  before,  he  almost  daily  expected  his 
dismission.   He  had  no  spiritual  conflict  at  his  last 


200  MEMOIR    OF    DR.    BUCHANAN. 

hour,  but  manifested  constantly  peace,  joy,  and 
high  assurance.  He  was  sensible  to  the  last ;  and 
when  he  could  not  speak,  he  testified  his  exultation 
of  soul  by  pressing  ardently  to  his  breast  his  fellow- 
saints.  He  left  to  you  and  your  family  his  solemn 
blessing.  I  send  you  a  paper  containing  some  no- 
tice of  his  death. 

"  Just  before  Mr.  Obeck's  death  I  preache'd  his 
dying  sermon  in  the  mission  church,  from  these 
words :  '  The  time  of  my  departure  is  at  hand.  I 
have  fought  a  good  fight,  I  have  finished  my  course, 
I  have  kept  the  faith.  Henceforth  there  is  laid  up 
for  me  a  crown  of  righteousness,  which  the  Lord 
the  righteous  Judge  shall  give  me  at  that  day ;  and 
not  to  me  only,  but  unto  all  them  also  who  love  his 
appearing.* 

''  Mr.  Brown  will  preach  his  funeral  sermon  next 
Sunday  evening." 

Of  what  Mr.  Buchanan  styles  Mr.  Obeck's  dy- 
ing sermon  it  may  not  be  uninteresting  to  many 
readers  to  insert  an  extract ;  both  as  it  contains  a 
pleasing  and  animated  sketch  of  the  life  and  cha- 
racter of  that  exemplary  christian,  and  as  it  may 
afford  a  specimen  of  the  spirit  of  Mr.  Buchanan's 
preaching  upon  such  occasions. 

**  This  excellent  man  does  not  speak  of  mani- 
festations and  visions  of  glory,  which  have  some- 


AT  CALCUTTA.  201 

times  attended  the  death  of  good  men  ;  but  he  ma- 
nifests a  calm,  rational,  and  placid  spirit,  founded 
on  the  basis  of  an  immovable  faith,  yet  accompa- 
nied by  such  ardor  of  expression,  and  by  such  an 
assurance  of  hope,  as  would  abash  philosophy 
itself.     • 

"  He  has  none  of  those  doubts  which  are  often 
found  on  a  death-bed.  He  has  not  those  fears  and 
misgivings  of  conscience  which  the  unstable  and 
careless  christian  often  experiences.  He  has  none 
of  those  fearful  forebodings  which  harass  the  soul 
of  the  despiser  of  religion  in  his  last  hour.  He  is 
a  stranger  to  that  gloomy  despair  which  often 
haunts  the  soul  of  the  man  who  has  passed  through 
life  the  slave  of  ambition  or  the  votary  of  pleasure. 
No,  his  last  moments  are  the  happiest  of  his  life. 
His  ambition  through  life  has  been  to  obtain  *  that 
honor  which  cometh  from  God;*  and  his  pleasure 
has  been,  in  serving  God  with  his  whole  heart ;  in 
loving  his  neighbor  as  himself;  in  forgiving  his 
enemies  ;  and  in  praying  for  those  who  persecute 
and  despitefully  use  the  professor  of  the  Gospel 
of  Christ. 

"  Do  you  inquire  on  wlmtjaith  these  good  works 
and  this  holy  disposition  were  founded  ]  Let  me 
express  to  you  his  faith,  collected  chiefly  from  his 
own  words  : 

"  *  I  am  a  sinner,  saved  by  the  mercy  of  God  in 
Christ.  By  nature  I  am  impure  and  unholy.  Nothing 


202  MEMOIR   OP    DR.    BUCHANAN. 

in  me,  no  merit  of  mine,  could  make  me  the  object 
of  God's  distinguishing  grace.  But  I  believed  the 
woi-d  of  God,  and  I  was  enabled  to  offer  up  my 
prayers  at  an  early  age,  that  he  would  open  my 
understandingr  and  lead  me  to  a  knowledo^e  of  his 
truth.  And  his  promise  was  fulfilled  to  me,  (as  it  is 
fulfilled  to  every  serious  inquirer,)  '  Ask,  and  it 
shall  be  given  unto  you  ;  seek,  and  ye  shall  find.'  By 
degrees  the  mysteries  of  the  Gospel  were  opened 
to  my  view.  I  beheld  myself  a  lost  and  undone 
soul,  lying  with  a  multitude  in  a  world  of  wicked- 
ness ;  subject  to  the  just  wrath  of  God.  But  I  at 
the  same  time  heard  of  the  offer  made  to  a  perish- 
ing world  by  the  Saviour  Christ.  I  beheld  the 
whole  world  overwhelmed  by  a  flood  of  sin  and 
misery,  and  the  ark  of  redemption  floating  on  the 
waters.  Every  page  of  the  Gospel  showed  me  that 
there  was  no  salvation  but  by  the  ark  Christ ;  that 
his  atonement  on  the  cross  was  the  only  atonement 
for  my  past  and  future  sins  ;  that  his  gracious  Spirit 
influencing  my  soul  was  the  only  preservative  from 
my  evil  passions  and  from  an  ensnaring  world  ;  and 
that  his  mediation  alone  procures  our  access  to 
God,  and  warrants  an  answer  to  our  prayers. 

'*  '  Thus,'  said  he,  '  the  perusal  of  the  word  of 
God  was  blessed  to  my  soul.  I  received  it  in  its 
plain  and  obvious  meaning ;  and  I  have  had  a  con- 
stant experience  of  its  truth  through  my  past  life. 
It  has  been  a  light  to  my  steps  and  a  lantern  to 


AT    CALCUTTA.  203 

my  paths.  Its  peculiar  doctrines  appear  now  all 
light  and  glory  to  my  soul.  I  know  tliat  the  denun- 
ciatioHS  of  God  against  the  despisers  of  his  Gospel 
will  be  expressly  executed  ;  and  I  know  that  his 
promises  of  glory  to  the  righteous  will  be  fulfilled 
in  a  way  that  "  eye  hath  not  seen,  nor  ear  heard, 
neither  hath  entered  into  the  heart  of  man ;"  and 
the  anticipation  of  this  glory  is  to  me  unutterable. 
My  prayer  at  my  last  moments  is,  that  this  power 
of  the  Gospel  may  be  felt  more  and  more  at  this 
j)lace  ;  that  the  blessing  of  God  may  rest  on  this 
church  ;  that  the  ministers  may  labor  in  the  word 
with  zeal  and  faithfulness;  and  that  the  hearers 
may  receive  the  word  preached  with  meekness  and 
affection  ;  that  so  the  testimony  of  the  Gospel  may 
prevail,  and  the  church  of  Christ  may  begin  to 
flourish  in  this  dark  corner  of  the  world. 

"  '  I  leave,'  said  he,  '  my  blessing  on  this  church. 

"  '  As  to  my  numerous  family,  I  leave  them  with 
scarcely  the  means  of  subsistence ;  but  I  leave 
them  dependent  on  that  gracious  providence  which 
has  supported  me  from  youth  to  age,  in  a  state  of 
apparent  poverty  and  yet  possessing  abundance. 
I  leave  my  children  to  God  as  to  a  surviving  Father, 
who  will  care  for  them  as  he  hath  cared  for  me, 
and  will,  I  trust,  bless  my  instructions  to  the  salva- 
tion of  their  souls. 

"  '  As  to  myself,  my  hope  is  in  heaven.  The  pro- 
mises of  God  are  in  a  manner  already  fulfilled  to 


204  MEMOIR   OF    DPw    BUCHANAN. 

me.  His  truth  and  faithfulness  are  demonstrated 
to  my  soul.  By  his  mercy  "  I  have  fought  the 
good  fight,  I  have  finished  my  course,  I  have  kept 
the  faith.  Henceforth  there  is  laid  up  for  me  a 
crown  of  righteousness,  which  the  Lord  the  right- 
eous Judge  shall  give  me  at  that  day  ;  and  not  to 
me  only,  but  imto  all  them  also  who  love  his  ap- 
pearing.' 

''  Such,  my  brethren,  are  the  sentiments,  the  ex- 
pressions, and  the  heavenly  hope  of  this  good  man. 
He  now  lies  on  his  death-bed  in  the  house  adjoin- 
ing this  church,  and  endeavors  to  join  the  praises 
of  the  conofreg^ation  with  his  feeble  voice.  He  could 
even  now  confirm  every  sentiment  respecting  him 
which  I  have  uttered ;  and  he  could  confirm  them 
with  an  energy  and  eloquence  of  which  I  am  in- 
capable. 

"  Who  is  there  in  this  assembly  who  is  not  ready 
to  say,  '  Let  me  also  die  the  death  of  the  righteous ; 
and  let  my  last  end  be  like  his .?'  " 

In  the  same  month  in  which  the  preceding  ser- 
mon was  preached,  Mr.  Buchanan  was  called  to 
perform  a  similar  ofiice  on  occasion  of  the  death  of 
Mr.  Archibald  Edmonstone,  of  the  board  of  trade, 
who  left  behind  him  a  noble  testimony  to  his  faith 
in  the  Gospel.  "  His  last  words,"  says  Mr.  Bu- 
chanan, in  mentioninsf  the  event  in  a  letter  to  a 
friend,  "  were  these,  *  Blessed  be  the  God  and  Fa- 


AT    CALCUTTA.  205 

iher  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  who  through  his 
abundant  mercy  hath  begotten  me  again  unto  a 
lively  hope,  through  the  resurrection  of  his  Son 
Jesus  Christ  from  the  dead,  to  an  inheritance  in- 
corruptible, undefiled,  and  that  fadeth  not  away.' 
These  words  his  brother  has  directed  to  be  en- 
graven on  his  tomb." 

The  manner  in  which  Mr.  Edmonstone,  who 
tlien  filled  one  of  the  most  confidential  situations 
under  the  Presidency  of  Bengal,  and  is  celebrated 
for  his  oriental  learninof,  classical  taste,  and  culti- 
vated  understanding,  described  Mr.  Buchanan's 
funeral  sermon  on  his  brother,  is  too  honorable  to 
him  to  be  omitted.  It  occurs  in  a  note  from  Mr. 
Edmonstone  to  his  friend  Captain  Baillie,  profes- 
sor of  the  Arabic  language  and  of  Mohammedan  law 
in  the  college  of  Fort  William,  and  is  as  follows : 

"  Sunday,  Sept.  11,  1803. 

"  My  dear  B ,  I  am  returned  from  hearing 

a  most  affecting  and  impressive  discourse,  delivered 
by  Mr.  Buchanan  with  a  degree  of  feeling  that 
does  honor  to  his  heart,  on  the  occurrence  of  last 
week.  I  am  anxious  that  Mr.  B.  should  know  how 
grateful  I  feel  for  this  high  tribute  of  respect  to  the 
memory  and  virtues  of  a  beloved  brother,  and  7 
therefore  entreat  you  to  express  to  Mr.  B.  my  sin- 
cere gratitude  for  this  distinguished  mark  of  his 
regard  for  him.     Tell  him  that  he  has  afforded  to 

Buchanan.  1^ 


206  MEMOIR   OF    DR.   BUCHANAN. 

my  mind  a  real  consolation,  and  that  I  trust  I  shall 
ever  after  be  the  better  for  the  affectinsr  and  forci- 
ble  manner  in  which  he  has  held  forth  to  imitation 
the  example  of  a  life  of  true  piety  and  virtue.  Fur- 
ther, I  request  that  you  will  convey  to  Mr.  B.  my 
earnest  wish  (if  it  be  not  improper)  that  he  will 
allow  me  to  transcribe  his  discourse,  both  for  the 
jiurpose  of  retaining  it  for  my  own  use  and  benefit, 
and  of  transmitting  a  copy  of  it  to  those  in  Europe 
who  will  indeed  need  the  consolation  for  such  an 
irreparable  loss  which  so  distinguished  a  testimony 
to  the  merits  of  a  son  and  a  brother  is  calculated  to 
afford.  Never  does  a  clergyman  appear  more  con- 
spicuously respectable  than  when  he  combines 
with  the  public  duties  of  his  calling  the  offices  of 
humanity  and  consolation ;  and  never  while  I  live 
will  the  memory  of  Mr.  B.'s  solemn  and  eloquent 
discourse  on  this  melancholy  occasion,  nor  the  gra- 
titude and  respect  for  him  which  it  has  excited,  be 
obliterated  from  the  mind  of  your  ever  affectionate 

"  N.  B.  Edmonstone. 

"  To  Captain  Baillie." 

It  was  in  the  summer  of  this  year  that  Mr.  Bu- 
chanan first  thought  of  proposing  certain  subjects  of 
2>rizeco??ij)ositio/i,,  connected  with  the  civilization  and 
moral  improvement  of  India,  to  the  universities  of 
the  United  Kingdom.  With  this  laudable  in- 
tention he  waited  on  the   Governor  General,  and 


AT    CALCUTTA.  207 

having  obtained  his  lordship's  approbation  of  the 
plan,  lie,  on  tlie  20th  of  October,  despatched  letters 
to  the  vice  chancellors  and  principals  of  the  univer- 
sities of  Oxford  and  Cambridge,  of  Edinburgh, 
Glasgow,  St.  Andrew's,  and  Aberdeen,  to  the  pro- 
vost of  Trinity  college,  Dublin,  and  to  the  head 
masters  of  Eton,  Westminster,  and  the  Charter 
House  schools,  containing  the  following  proposals  : 
For  the  best  essay  in  English  prose  on  "  the  best 
means  of  extending  the  blessings  of  civilization 
and  true  religion  among  the  sixty  millions,  inhabi- 
tants of  Hindostan,  subject  to  British  authority  ;" 
in  each  univeisity,  one  hundred  pounds.  For  the 
best  English  poem  on  ''  the  revival  of  letters  in  the 
East,"  sixty  pounds.  For  the  best  Latin  ode  or 
poem  on  "  Collegium  Bengalense,"  twenty-five 
pounds  ;  and  the  same  sum  for  the  best  Greek  ode 
on  "  lina-^aj  ?»?.'"*  The  sum  of  fifty  pounds  each 
for  the  best  Latin  and  Greek  poems  was  offered  to 
the  successful  candidate  at  each  of  the  public 
schools. 

No  less  a  sum  than  sixteen  hundred  and  fifty 
pounds  was  thus  appropriated  by  Mr.  Buchanan  to 
this  benevolent  and  patriotic  purpose.  The  unusual 
nature  and  munificent  extent  of  his  offers  induced 
some  to  suppose,  either  that  they  were  not  made 
simply  at  his  own  suggestion  and  responsibility, 

,  ♦  *'  Let  there  be  light." 


208  MEMOIR    OF    DR.    BUCHANAN. 

or  that  lie  must  have  been  actuated  by  motives  of 
ostentation  and  vanity.  With  respect  to  the  propo- 
sals themselves,  they  undoubtedly  originated  solely 
with  Mr.  Buchanan,  and  were  supported  exclu- 
sively by  his  own  liberality.  He  was  ever  a  man 
of  a  larsre  and  grenerous  mind,  fertile  in  devisintr 
plans  of  usefulness,  and  prompt  in  seizing  the  firsr 
opportunity  of  executing  them.  He  was  anxious  tc 
extend  in  this  country  the  knowledge  of  the  cha 
racter  and  effects  of  the  great  collegiate  institution 
which  he  had  been  called  to  superintend  ;  and  the 
recent  victories  of  our  armies  in  the  Peninsula 
having  enlarged  and  confirmed  our  eastern  empire, 
he  was  desirous  of  awakening  and  directing  the 
minds  of  his  countrymen  at  home  to  the  duty  and 
the  opportunity  of  promoting  the  moral  and  politi- 
cal welfare  of  our  fellow-subjects  in  India.  Publi- 
city and  inquiry  were  therefore  his  great  objects ; 
publicity,  not  as  to  his  own  character  or  fame,  for 
this  he  knew  might  have  been  far  more  certainly 
obtained  by  more  obvious  and  less  costly  means, 
but  as  to  the  great  and  philanthropic  design  which 
he  had  in  view ;  and  this  induced  him  to  endeavor 
to  interest  in  his  plan  even  the  higher  forms  in  our 
public  schools.  The  result  of  his  liberal  proposals 
must  be  reserved  to  the  period  of  their  reception 
and  success  in  this  country. 

In  the  month  of  November  following  Mr.  Bu- 
chanan first  communicated  his  thousrhts  on  the  ex- 


AT  CALCUTTA.  209 

pediency  of  an  ecclesiastical  establishment  f(jrBn- 
tish  India,  in  letters  to  the  archbishop  of  Canter- 
bury, and  to  the  rest  of  the  episcopal  bench,  having 
previously  submitted  them  to  Marquis  Wellesley. 
The  reply  which  he  received,  from  the  late  Bishop 
Porteus  confirmed  and  encouraged  him  in  his  de- 
termination to  bring  that  important  subject  fully 
before  the  public. 

It  was  in  the  course  of  this  year  also  that  Mr. 
]]uchanan  obtained  the  sanction  of  the  Governor 
General  to  the  building  of  a  new  church  in  Cal- 
cutta. But  the  extensive  plans  of  Lord  Wellesley 
respecting  the  college,  and  other  political  concerns, 
prevented  the  execution  of  this  design. 

A  few  circumstances  which  occur  in  Mr.  Bucha- 
nan's letters  to  Mr.  Grant  and  Major  Sandys  to- 
wards the  end  of  this  year,  may  here  be  added. 
To  the  former  he  thus  wrote  in  October  and  De- 
cember : 

'*  The  venerable  Obeck  had  not  been  dead  many 
weeks,  when  his  old  friend  Mr.  Gericke,  that  valu- 
able man,  took  his  departure  also.  The  church  at 
Madras  is  in  great  affliction  ;  for  there  is  no  one  to 
fill  his  place.  Letters  have  come  to  us  for  help. 
But  we  can  give  none.  I  do  not  know  what  ac- 
quaintance you  may  have  with  that  mission ;  but 
attention  to  it  appears  to  me  highly  important  in 
the  present  state  of  things.  If  there  were  any  mis- 
IS* 


210  MEMOIR    OP    DR.    BUCHANAN. 

sionary  like-minded  withGericke  within  your  reach, 
we  could  from  Calcutta  add  something  to  his  sala- 
ry, if  that  be  desirable." 

To  Major  Sandys  Mr.  Buchanan  wrote  as  fol- 
lows : 

"  We  are  passing  through  an  eventful  season  in 
India.  The  order  of  the  day  is  victory,  and  the 
Mahratta  power  is  at  length  destroyed.  The  whole 
peninsula  is  now  under  British  dominion.  I  have 
taken  advantage  of  the  crisis,  in  endeavoring  to 
excite  our  universities  at  home  to  plead  the  cause 
of  eastern  civilization. 

''  Mary  improves  in  health  daily.  She  has  no 
sanguine  wish  to  return  to  England  ;  and  it  is  a 
subject  on  which  I  never  think.  My  health  conti- 
nually bids  it,  but  nothing  else.  Providence  will  in 
due  time  unlock  every  difficulty,  and  make  our 
purpose  and  duty  clear." 

The  character  of  the  audience  usually  assem- 
bling at  the  presidency  church  has  been  already 
noticed.  It  has  also  been  observed  that,  a  few  years 
previous  to  this  period,  the  spirit  of  infidelity  or  of 
religious  indifference  was  lamentably  general  in 
our  eastern  capital ;  and  the  infection  still  remained 
amonor  some,  who,  from  neglected  education,  or 
the  influence  of  circumstances  and  habits  peculiar- 
ly unfriendly  to  Christianity,  were  scarcely  aware 
of  the  nature  of  religious  sentiment  and  feeling. 


AT    CALCUTTA.  211 

Amongst  other  subjects,  therefore,  of  discourse 
more  directly  suited  to  those  who  acknowledged 
the  great  truths  of  the  Gospel,  Mr.  Buchanan  occa- 
sionally addressed  those  who  doubted  of  its  divine 
authority ;  and  the  perspicuity  and  force  with  which 
he  stated  its  various  evidences  tended  materially 
to  extend  and  confirm  the  conviction  of  its  truth. 
The  importance  of  such  discourses  is  much  height- 
ened from  the  consideration  of  their  probable  effect 
on  the  minds  of  the  numerous  young  men  who  as 
yet  continued  to  be  assembled  from  the  three  pre- 
sidencies at  the  college  of  Fort  William,  and  who 
might  be  justly  expected  to  cany  with  them  to 
their  different  stations,  throughout  India,  those 
sound  principles  of  christian  faith  and  practice 
which  they  had  heard  thus  ably  and  eloquently  in- 
culcated. 


CHAPTER  VI. 


Two  yeartl*  further  residence  in  Calcutta — The  Ccl^ 
lege — Translations  of  the  Scriptures — Extensive  <fe- 
signs  of  usefulness. 

The  college  of  Fort  William,  according  to  the 
regulation  of  Lord  Wellesley,  in  obedience  to  the 


212  MEMOIR    OF    DR.    BUCHANAN. 

decision  of  the  Court  of  Directors,  was  to  close  on 
the  31st  of  December,  1S03.  It  was,  however,  a 
very  gratifying  circumstance  to  the  friends  of  that 
institution,  that  on  the  3d  of  January,  1S04,  a  des- 
patch announced  to  the  Governor  General  the  de- 
termination of  the  court  that  the  college  should  for 
the  present  continue  on  its  original  footing.  The 
business  and  examinations  of  the  students  accord- 
ingly proceeded  in  their  usual  train,  or  rather  with 
additional  spirit. 

*'  An  example  of  idleness,"  says  Mr.  Buchanan 
in  a  letter  to  a  friend,  "  is  a  rare  thing.  The  ap- 
pointments to  the  service  continue  to  be  made  ac- 
cording to  the  college  list,  that  is,  according  to 
merit." 

The  annual  disputations  in  the  oriental  languages 
were  held  this  year  on  the  20th  of  September,  in 
the  presence  of  the  Governor  General,  accompa- 
nied, as  usual,  by  the  principal  officers  of  the  pre- 
sidency, with  the  addition,  on  this  occasion,  of  So- 
liman  Aga,  the  envoy  from  Bagdad.  The  subjects 
of  the  disputations  were,  "  the  Shanscrit,  as  the  pa- 
rent language  of  India,"  in  Hindostanee  ;  "  the  figu- 
rative sense  of  the  poems  of  Hafiz,"  in  Persian; 
"  the  utility  of  translations  of  the  best  works  extant 
in  the  Shanscrit  into  the  popular  languages  of  In- 
dia," in  Bengalee  j  and,  in  Arabic,  "  the  importance 


AT    CALCUTTA.  213 

of  the  Arabic  to  a  grammatical  knowledge  of  the 
Persian  language."  A  declamation  was  afterwards 
pronounced  in  Shanscrit,  for  the  first  time,  by  one 
of  the  students,  which  was  followed  by  a  speech  in 
the  same  language  by  Rev.  Mr.  Carey,  the  mode- 
rator and  professor. 

Prizes  were  at  the  same  time  awarded  for  thft 
best  English  essays  on  "  the  utility  of  the  Persian 
language  in  India,"  on  "  the  progress  of  civiliza- 
tion in  India  under  the  British  government,"  and 
on  "  the  decline  and  fall  of  the  Mohammedan  em- 
pire in  India."  Honorary  rewards  of  books  were 
also  adjudged  to  the  best  proficients  in  the  Greek 
aftd  Latin  classics,  and  in  the  French  langruasre. 

The  several  compositions  of  this  year  were  after- 
wards published  in  the  third  volume  of  the  "  Pri- 
raiticG  Orientales." 

In  the  speech  with  which  Marquis  Wellesley 
closed  the  proceedings  of  the  day,  his  lordship  de- 
clared that  in  each  successive  year  the  standard  of 
comparative  merit  had  been  progressive  in  the 
highest  classes  of  the  college,  and  expressed  his 
cordial  satisfaction  at  the  proficiency  and  good  con- 
duct of  the  students. 

"  The  observance  of  all  the  statutes,"  said  his 
lordship,  "  is  equally  essential  to  the  interests  and 
honor  of  the  students ;  nor  is  their  duty  confined 
merely  to  the  diligent  pursuit  of  the  prescribed 


214  MEMOIR    OP    DR.    BUCHANAN. 

course  of  study.  The  intention  of  the  statutes  is 
not  only  to  provide  instruction  in  the  oriental  lan- 
guages, and  in  the  several  branches  of  study  im- 
mediately connected  with  the  performance  of  offi- 
cial functions,  but  to  prescribe  habits  of  regularity 
and  good  order.  My  principal  jDurpose  in  found- 
ing this  institution  w^as,  to  secure  the  junior  ser- 
vants of  the  Company  from  all  undue  influence  in 
the  discharge  of  their  official  functions,  and  to  in- 
troduce them  into  the  public  service  in  perfect 
freedom  and  independence,  exempt  from  every 
restraint,  excepting  the  high  and  sacred  obligations 
of  their  civil,  moral,  and  religious  duty." 

In  the  course  of  the  year  1S04  several  circuni- 
stances  occurred,  connected  with  Mr.  Buchanan 
and  the  college  of  Fort  William,  which  will  be 
best  introduced  by  a  few  extracts  from  his  letters. 
He  thus  wrote  to  Major  Sandys  in  the  month  of 
February  : 

"  We  are  much  the  same  in  church,  state,  and 
college,  as  when  you  left  us  ;  only,  in  respect  to 
myself,  my  various  labors  have  increased,  are  in- 
creasing, and,  I  fear,  will  not  be  diminished. 

"  I  am  literally  left  alone  in  many  matters  of  a 
public  nature,  particularly  in  a  battle  now  fighting 
(the  worst  I  have  yet  had)  with  Mussulman  and 
Hindoo  prejudices  ag^ainst  translations  of  the.  Scrip- 
tures,    Their  clamor  has  assailed  the  grovernment. 


AT    CALCUTTA.  215 

Lord  Wellesley  and  INIr.  Barlow  are  neuter;  but 
the  old  civil  servants  fan  the  flame,  A  folio  vo- 
lume would  not  detail  the  particulars;  but  I  trust 
you  will  soon  hear  of  the  good  effect.  In  the  mean- 
time I  am  growing  infirm  in  body,  and  long  for 
more  holy  employ  than  that  of  hewing  wood  only 
for  our  future  sanctuary  in  India.  I  know  that 
wliat  is  doing  is  useful ;  but  spiritual  comforts  do 
not  accompany  the  occupation  in  the  degree  I  de- 
sire and  look  forward  to,  when  I  have  peace  from 
public  conflict." 

The  particular  circumstance  to  which  Mr.  Bu- 
chanan probably  referred  in  the  preceding  extract, 
was  a  memorial  which  about  this  time  was  ad- 
dressed to  the  Governor  General  in  consequence 
of  the  following  subject  having  been  proposed, 
among  others,  for  discussion  by  the  students  of  the 
college,  at  the  annual  disputations  which  have  been 
just  mentioned  :  viz.  "  The  advantage  which  the 
natives  of  this  countiy  might  derive  from  transla- 
tions, in  the  vernacular  tongues,  of  the  books  con- 
taining the  principles  of  their  respective  religions, 
and  those  of  the  christian  faith," 

There  certainly  appears  to  be  no  ground  of  of- 
fence to  the  natives  of  India  in  the  foreofoino:  thesis. 
A  christian  might  rather  have  objected  to  it  as  pla- 
cing his  most  holy  faith  too  much  upon  a  level  with 
heathen    and   Mohammedan   error.     A   memorial 


Si6  MEMOIR    OF    DR.    BUCHANAN. 

was,  however,  addressed  to  the  Governor  General 
on  the  part  of  the  Mohammedan  moonshees,  and  of 
a  number  of  the  Mussulman  inhabitants  of  Calcutta, 
remonstrating  against  this  supposed  infringement 
of  the  toleration  afforded  to  them  by  the  British 
government.  In  reply.  Marquis  Wellesley  signi- 
fied to  the  memorialists  that  although  he  perceived 
no  principle  of  an  objectionable  tendency  in  the 
foregoing  thesis,  yet,  with  a  view  to  prevent  all 
apprehension  on  the  part  of  the  natives,  he  had 
prohibited  the  intended  disputation  upon  that 
subject. 

Some  years  afterwards  this  incident  was  ap- 
jjealed  to  on  the  part  of  the  Bengal  government  in 
support  of  some  measures  tending  to  discourage  or 
suppress  the  exertions  of  missionaries.  Upon  which 
occasion  Mr.  Buchanan  observed*  that  the  memo- 
rial probably  originated  in  the  suggestions  of  some 
individuals  at  that  time  connected  with  the  govern- 
ment and  the  college,  who  appeared  to  entertain  a 
degree  of  morbid  tenderness  for  the  religious  feel- 
ings of  the  natives. 

These  gentlemen  had  from  the  beginning  been 
hostile  to  a  most  important  work  which  had  been 
carrying  on  in  the  college  :  viz.  the  translation  of 
the  Scriptures  into  the  oriental  languages  by  na- 

*  See  his  "  Apology  for  promoting  Christianity  in  In- 
dia," p.  102. 


AT    CALCUTTA.  217 

lives  and  Europeans.  So  great  was  their  jealousy 
on  this  subject,  that  there  existed  a  kind  of  com- 
promise between  the  friends  and  the  opponents  of 
this  salutary  measure,  that  if  the  Bible  were  print- 
ed for  christians,  the  Koran  should  be  printed  for 
Mohammedans.  It  is  to  this  honorable  contest 
that  Mr.  Buclianan  refers  in  the  letter  last  quoted  ; 
and,  happily  for  the  interests  of  Christianity,  he 
was  decidedly  successful.  Within  the  following 
year  a  commencement  was  made  in  the  translation 
of  the  Scriptures  into  several  languages.  The  first 
versions  of  any  of  the  Gospels  in  Persian  and  Hin- 
dostanee  which  were  printed  in  India,  issued  from 
the  press  of  the  college  of  Fort  William.* 

Of  these  and  other  translations  of  the  Scriptures 
then  projected  and  undertaken,  only  a  very  incon- 
siderable part  was  executed  at  the  public  expense. 
The  sole  charge  incurred  by  the  college  in  the  de- 
])artment  of  sacred  translation  was  for  the  Grospel 
of  St.  Matthew  in  Persian  and  Hindostanee  ;  with 
this  exception,  the  extensive  biblical  works  succes- 
sively announced  from  this  institution  was  carried 
-on  at  the  private  expense  of  those  members  of  the 
college,  amongst  whom  the  provost  and  vice-pro- 
vost held  the  first  rank,  and  others,  who  deemed 
it  to  be  of  the  highest  importance  to  promote  the 
diffusion  of  sacred  literature  in  Asia. 

*   Dr.  Carey's  'Ji  edition  was  issued  as  early  as  1803. 
Buchaaan.  19 


21S  MEMOIR    OF    PR.    BL'ClIA\Af<r, 

A  second  occurrence  in  tliis  year  marked  an  im-r 
proved  state  of  moral  feeling  in  Calcutta,  and  par' 
ticularly  illustrates  the  salutary  influence  of  tho 
college  of  Fort  AVilliam.  It  is  thus  mentioned  by 
Mr.  Buchanan  in  a  letter  to  !»Iajor  Sandys,  in  the 
month  of  August ; 

"  The  institution  of  a  ci\i\ /imd  for  widoics  ami 
orphans  agitates  this  service  at  present.  The  old 
uentlemen  wish  to  include  black  illeG:itimate  chil- 
dren.  The  junior  servants,  who  are  now  or  have 
been  in  college,  almost  with  one  voice  exclaim 
against  a  measure  which  they  conceive  would  have 
a  tendency  to  sanction  vice,  and  to  countenance  an 
illicit  connection  with  native  women.  The  ques- 
tion is  now  referred  to  the  vote  of  every  individual 
in  the  service.  In  the  meantime  one  of  my  old. 
scholars  has  written  a  letter  to  the  service  ;  in  which 
he  complains  of  their  violation  of  the  divine  law, 
and  requests  them  to  revert  to  the   principles  of 

lionor  and  chastity.    Mr.  M is  in  the  Governor 

General's  office,  and  is  supported  by  the  young 
school,  by  ail  the  college,  by  the  Governor  Gene- 
ral, and  by  all  the  friends  of  revealed  religion.  Ca- 
ricature prints,  exhibiting  the  mover  of  the  subject, 
with  a  black  child  in  his  arms,  pleading  its  cause 
in  full  assembly,  while  a  black  dye  behind  urges 
him  forward ;  and  various  other  devices  mark  the 
popular  question,  and  promise  to  brand  the  immo- 


Af    C\Ltvi"tA:  219 

ral  practice.  It  is  said  that  the  affliction  and  shamo 
of  the  ulcl  service  arc  extreme  ;  and  that  they  exe- 
crate the  college  and  its  fruits,  and  hope  that  the 
Court  of  Directors  will  now  see  how  unfriendly  it 
is  to  ancient  institutions  ! 

"  What  the'  result  aS  to  the  fund  will  be  I  know 
not." 

This,  ho^vever,  Mr.  Buchanan  stated  to  the  pub- 
lic in  the  following  year,  in  some  remarks  on  "  The 
College  of  Fort  William."  ''  The  contest,"  he  ob- 
serves, ''  was  maintained  for  a  considerable  time, 
by  printed  correspondence,  and  the  fund  was  at 
length  established  withuvt  the  opprobrious  clause. 
But  a  fe\t  years  ago,"  adds  Mr.  Buchanan,  "  any 
man  who  should  have  ventured  to  resist  such  a 
measure  on  the  ground  of  religious  or  moral  pro- 
priety, would  have  become  the  jest  of  the  whole 
service.  He  must  be  an  entire  stranger  to  what  is 
passing  in  Bengal,  who  docs  not  perceive  that  the 
ct»llege  of  Fort  William  is  sensibly  promoting  an 
amelioration  of  the  European  chiiracter  as  well  as 
the  civilization  of  India." 

The  activity  of  Mr.  Buchanan^s  mind  respecting 
objects  which  he  deemed  imjDortant  to  the  interests 
of  morals  and  religion,  may  be  collected,  not  only 
from  the  preceding  circumstances,  but  from  various 
hints  in  bis  correspondence  and  diary. 


220  MEMOIR    OF    DR.    BrClIANAN'. 

Thus,  at  the  close  of  the  letter  from  v/hich  the 
foregoing  extract  was  made,  he  says,  "  I  have  al- 
ways some  plans  relating  to  church  or  college  in 
his  excellency's  hands;  and  generally  in  arrear. 
But  when  he  does  take  them  up,  it  is  with  the  pro- 
per attention."  A  memorandum  also  occurs  in  the 
same  year,  in  which  Mr.  Buchanan  notices  a  con- 
sultation which  he  had  lately  held  with  Sir  George 
Barlow  on  a  jjublie  thanksgiving,  probably  on  ac- 
count of  the  victorious  termination,  of  the  Mahratta 
war,  on  the  subject  of  a  cenotaph  for  those  who^ 
had  fallen  in  battle,  and  respecting  an  order  for  the 
better  observance  of  the  Sabbath. 

Amidst  his  various  labors,  however,  the  domes- 
tic trial  with  which  Mr.  Buchanan  had  been  already 
exercised,  was  renewed  by  the  reappearance,  early 
in  the  summer  of  this  year,  of  alarming  consump- 
tive symptoms  in  Mrs.  Buchanan.  In  the  course  of 
the  autumn  she  became  so  ill  that  her  life  was  for 
a  short  time  despaired  of;  and  on  her  partial  re- 
covery, being  strongly  urged  to  proceed  a  second 
lime  to  Europe,  she  at  length  very  reluctantly  con- 
sented. 

Preparations  were  accordingly  made  for  this 
purpose,  and  in  October  Mr.  Buchanan  briefly 
mentions  in  his  diary  that  he  had  been  on  board 
the  Lady  Jane  Dundas  to  look  at  Mrs.  B.'s  cabin. 
She  did  not,  however,  leave  Calcutta  till  the  22d  of 
January  following,  when  Mr.  Buchanan  accorapa- 


XT   CALCUTTA.  221 

filed  ^et  and  her  youngest  daughter  to  the  ship  at 
Kedgeree  ;  and  on  the  2ath  the  fleet  sailed  for 
Madras,  leaving  him  once  more  to  return  to  a  soli- 
tary home,  full  of  tender  but  melancholy  musings, 
hoping  almost  "  against  hope  "  for  some  favorable 
effect  from  lier  voyage,  but  rather  endeavoring  to 
prepare  his  mind  for  a  contrary  result.  His  memo- 
randa testify  the  warmth  of  afiection  with  which  he 
again  followed  Mrs.  J3uchanan,  by  frequent  notices 
of  the  letters  which  he  wrote  to  her  weekly,  and 
sometimes  almost  daily,  and  of  whi^h  it  is  much  to 
be  regretted  that  not  a  vestige  remains. 

It  wa.-?  at  the  anxious  period  which  immediately 
f)recedGd  her  departure  from  India,  that  Mr.  Bu- 
chanan resolved  to  employ  apart  of  the  very  limit- 
ed leisure  which  his  ministerial  and  collegiate  du- 
ties allowed,  to  prepare  a  work  which  had  long 
been  the  subject  of  his  thoughts,  and  the  import- 
ance of  which  is  now  universally  acknowledged. 
This  was  what  he  afterwards  entitled,  ''  A  Memoir 
of  the  Expediency  of  an  Ecclesiastical  Establish- 
ment for  British  India." 

The  design  of  his  "  Memoir"  was  indeed,  as  he 
afterwards  declared,  first  suggested  to  him  by  the 
late  excellent  Bishop  Porteus  ;  wdio  had,  he  said, 
^'  attentively  surveyed  the  state  of  our  dominions 
in  Asia,"  and  had  expressed  his  "  conviction  of  the 
indispensable  necessity  of  an  ecclesiastical  esta- 
blishment for  our  Indian  empire.''  lie  was  encou- 
19* 


222  MEMOIR    OF   DR.    BUCUANAN- 

raged  also,  as  he  added,  "  by  subsequent  commu- 
nications with  Marquis  Wellesley,  to  endeavor  to 
lead  the  attention  of  the  nation  to  this  subject." 
The  mauuscript  of  this  work  was  transmitted  to 
England  in  the  spring,  and  jHiblished  in  the  au- 
tumn of  the  year  IS05. 

Before  we  proceed,  however,  with  the  conside- 
i-ation  of  his  "  Memoir,"  it  will  be  proper  to  recur 
to  the  prizes  proposed  by  Mr.  Buchanan  to  the  uni- 
versities and  some  of  the  public  schools  of  the  Uni- 
ted Kingdom.  They  were  accepted  in  the  summer 
of  ISO 4  by  the  several  bodies  to  which  they  were 
aiTered,  with  the  exception  of  the  univer&ity  of 
Oxford ;  by  which  they  were  declined,  on  the 
ground  of  certain  objections  in  point  of  form.  The 
prize  compositions  were  directed  to  be  delivered 
to  the  respective  judges  towards  the  end  of  the 
year  ;  and  early  in  the  following  spring  the  prizes 
were  awarded  to  the  successful  candidates.  Of  the 
compositions  which  were  thus  honored,  the  greater 
number  were  afterwards  published,  as  well  as  a 
few  others  which  had  proved  unsuccessful.  In  the 
university  af  Cambridge  the  prize  for  the  Greek 
ode  was  adjudged  to  Mr.  Pryme,  of  Trinity  col- 
lege ;  and  at  Eton  to  Mr.  Rennell,  afterwards  Fel- 
low.of  Kino's  colleo:e.  At  the  same  distino^uished 
school  Mr.  Richards  obtained  the  prize  for  the  best 
Latin  verses  on  the  college  of  Fort  William. 

In  Seotland  three  Latin  poems  were  also  pub- 


AT   CALCUTTA,  223 

Jished  by  Mr.  Mac  Arthur,  Mr,  Adamson,  and  Dr, 
Brown,  of  which  the  two  former  were  thought 
worthy  of  the  prize  by  the  universities  of  Glasgow 
and  Aberdeen.  The  composition,  however,  which 
reflected  the  highest  honor  on  its  author,  and  on 
the  occasion  which  called  it  forth,  was  the  English ' 
poem  on  "  the  restoration  of  learning  in  the  East," 
by  Charles  Grant,  Esq.  then  Fellow  of  Magdalen 
college,  Cambridge,  The  poetical  talents,  the  clas- 
sical and  oriental  learning,  the  elevated  sentiments,- 
and  the  rich  and  varied  command  of  language  dis- 
played in  this  prize  composition,  attracted  general 
admiration  ;  and  tended  materially  to  promote  the- 
design  which  the  proposer  of  the  subject  had  in 
view,  by  directing  the  public  attention  to  the  revi- 
val of  learning  on  the  banks  of  the  Ganges,  and  by 
exciting  it  to  the  duty  and  the  privilege  of  improv- 
ing the  condition  of  the  degraded  natives  of  Hin- 
dostan,  and  of  spreading  throughout  our  oriental 
empire  the  blessings  of  literature  and  religion.  A 
second  poem  on  this  subject  was  published  at  the 
request  of  the  examiners,  by  the  Rev,  Francis 
Wrangham,  of  Trinity  college. 

Essays  on  "  the  best  means  of  civilizing  the  sub- 
jects of  the  British  empire  in  India,  and  of  diffusing 
the  lii^ht  of  the  christian  relij^ion  throuo;hout  the 
eastern  world,"  were  published  by  the  Rev.  Wil- 
liam Cockburn,  Fellow  of  St.  John's  college,  and 
Christian  Advocate  in  the  university  of  Cambridge, 


§24  SfEMOIR    OP    DR.    BUCHANAN. 

to'  wlrom  the  prize  was  assigned  ;  by  Mr.  Wratig'- 
liam,  who  with  laudable  ze'al  eiigaged"  in  the  prose 
^s  well  as  in  the  poetical  competition  ;  by  Dr.  Ten- 
nant,  then  lately  returned  as  a  military  chaplain- 
from  India  ;  and  by  Messrs.  Mitchell  and  Bryce,  to 
whom  the  prize  was  respectively  adjudged  by  the' 
ilniversities  of  Edinburgh,  Glasgow,  and  Aberdeen.- 

These  essays  Vv'ere,  with  one  exception,  the  pro- 
duction of  studious  and  speculative  men,  whose  at- 
tention was  probably  first  directed  to  the  subject 
by  Mr.- Buchanan's  proposal  to  the  learned  bodies^ 
of  which  they  were  members.  Whilst  it  could 
scarcely,  therefore,  be  expected  that  they  should- 
sUggest  any  detailed  practical  arrangements  for  the 
civilization  and  instruction  of  the  natives  of  Hin- 
dostan,  they  exhibited  considerable  historical  and 
political  research,  together  with  enlightened  and 
benevolent  views  of  the  dutf  of  Great  Britain  to 
promote  the  important  objects  submitted  to  their 
discussion,  and  concurred  in  recommending  the 
adoption  of  certain  direct  means  for  diffusing  the 
blessings  of  Christianity  in  India.  They  possessed 
the' additional  merit  of  contributing  to  bring  before 
the  public  inquiries  tending  to  ameliorate  the  moral 
and  religious  condition  of  our  oriental  empire. 

The  utility  of  the  labors  of  missionaries,  and  the 
establishment  of  schools,  was  recognized  by  seve- 
ral of  the  writers  last  mentioned.  The  considera- 
tion, however,    of  an   ecclesiastical  establishment 


AT  CALCUTTA.  225 

was  resen'ed  for  Mr.  Buchanan  himself;  whose 
"  Memoir"  upon  that  subject  was  intended  to  point 
out  the  expediency  of  such  a  measure,  "  both  as 
the  means  of  perpetuating  the  christian  religion 
among  our  own  countrymen,  and  as  a  foundation 
for  the  ultimate  civilization  of  the  natives." 

The  first  part  of  this  work  exhibited  the  very  in- 
adequate state  of  the  clerical  establishment  in  India 
at  that  period,  for  the  great  purposes  of  the  instruc- 
tion and  religious  communion  of  our  resident  coun- 
trymen. In  the  second  part,  after  describing  in  just 
and  forcible  terms  the  pride,  immorality,  and  bi- 
gotry of  the  Mohammedans,  and  the  vices,  enormi- 
ties, and  barbarities  of  Hindoo  superstition  and 
idolatry,  Mr.  Buchanan  discussed  at  some  length 
the  practicability  and  the  policy  of  attempting  to 
civilize  and  improve  them.  In  tliis  part  of  his  work 
he  exhibited  the  character  of  the  Hindoos  in  a  dif- 
ferent point  of  view  from  that  in  which  they  had 
been  generally  regarded.  He  asserted  that  their 
apathy  is  extreme,  and  that  no  efforts  to  instruct 
them,  except  such  as  partook  of  a  compulsory  na- 
ture, ought  to  be  considered  as  attended  with  dan- 
ger to  the  British  government ;  that  their  prejudi- 
ces are  daily  weakening  in  every  European  settle- 
ment ;  that  they  are  a  divided  people  ;  that  they 
are  less  tenacious  of  opinion  than  of  custom  ;  and 
that  to  disseminate  new  principles  among  them  is 
by  no  means  so  difficult  as  it  is  frequently  repre- 


226  MEMOIR   OP    DR.    BUCHANAN. 

sented.  In  obviating  objections  founded  on  the 
supposed  impolicy  of  civilizing  our  Indian  sub- 
jects, Mr.  Buchanan,  however,  advanced  to  higher 
ground  : 

"  The  progressive  civilization  of  India,"  he  ob- 
serves, ''  will  never  injure  the  interests  of  the  East 
India'  Company.  But  shall  a  christian  people,  ac- 
knowledging a  providence  in"  the  rise  and  fall  of 
empire,  regulate  the  policy  of  future  times,  and 
neglect  a  piesent  duty,  a  solemil  and  imperious 
duty,  exacted  by  their  religion,  by  their  public 
principles,  and  by  the  opinion  of  the  christian  na- 
tions around  them  ?  Or  can  it  be  gratifying  to"  the 
English  nation  to  reflect  that  they  receive  the  riches 
of  the  East  on  the  terms  of  chartering  immoral  su^ 
perstition  ?" 

"The'  appeal  was  unanswefable,  and  produced'  a' 
cc)r responding-  impression  upon  the  })ublic  mind. 

The  third  part  of  Sir.  Buchanan's  merfioir  strong- 
I)'  conlirmed  his  arguments  as  to  the  practicability 
of  his  proposed  plan,  by  a  view  of  the  progress 
already  made  in  civilizing  the  nations  of  Hindostan.- 
Many  interesting  facts  were  here  stated  relative  to 
the  existence  of  Christianity  in  India  from  the  ear- 
liest ages,  and  particularly  respecting  the  native 
christians  on  the  coast  of  Malabar,  who,  notvvith- 
(Stamling  the  accounts   givcii-  of  them   by  a  few 


AT    CALCUTTA.  227 

learned  men,  were 'now,  for  the  first  time,  promi- 
nently introduced  to  tlie  knowledge  of  the  Englisli 
j)ul)lic.  Tlie  labors  of  the  Danish  miysionaries, 
Ziegenhalg  and  Grundler,  and  of  tlie  apostolic 
Swartz,  were  also  commemorated  ;  and  the  laud- 
able and  truly  christian  addresses  of  King  George 
I.  and  Archbishop  AVake  to  the  farmer  excellent 
men  were  exhibited  as  models  of  imitation  to  po- 
litical and  ecclesiastical  governors  of  the  present 

An  appendix  to  the  memoir  contained  a  variety 
of  important  information  on  tlie  superstitions  of  the 
Hindoos,  tending  powerfully  to  correct  llie  erro- 
neous opinion  so  commonly  entertained  of  them  at 
this  period,  as  a  mild,  humane,  and  inoffensive  race. 

Such  was  briefly  the  nature  of  tlie  novel  and  in- 
teresting work  which  Mr.  Buchanan  transmitted  to 
England  in  the  year  1805,  for  publication.  It  was 
calculated,  from  the  peculiar  subjects  of  which  it 
treated,  to  excite  general  attention,  and  to  provoke 
both  discussion  and  animadversion. 

It  had  long  been  an  object  of  anxiety  to  the  su- 
perintendents of  the  college  of  Fort  William  to 
obtain  a  version  of  tlie  Seripturcs  in  the  Chinese  lan- 
guage. After  many  fruitless  inquiries,  they  in  this 
year  succeeded  in  procuring  the  assistance  of  Mr. 
Lassar,  a  native  of  China,  and  an  Armenian  chris- 
tian, whose  name  is  now  well  known  as  a  learned 


S2S  MExMOiR   OP   DR.    BUCHANAN. 

professor  of  that  language.  Mr.  Lassar  arrived  at 
Calcutta  in  a  commercial  capacity,  and  having  met 
with  some  difficulties,  he  became  know^n  to  Mr. 
Buchanan,  who,  appreciating  his  talents,  gene- 
rously liberated  him  from  his  embarrassments,  and 
engaged  him  at  a  stipend  of  three  hundred  rupees 
per  month,  to  devote  himself  to  the  translation  of 
the  Scriptures,  and  to  the  instruction  of  a  Chinese 
class,  formed  of  one  of  the  elder  and  three  of  the 
junior  members  of  the  missionary  establishment  at 
Serampore.  The  expected  reduction  of  the  col* 
lege  rendering  it  inexpedient  that  Mr.  Lassar 
should  be  attached  to  that  institution,  this  stipend 
was  afforded  for  about  three  years  at  the  sole  ex- 
pense of  Mr.  Buchanan.  To  his  liberality,  there- 
fore,  must  be  chiefly  ascribed  the  progress  which 
has  been  made  in  that  quarter  towards  supplying 
the  vast  empire  of  China  with  a  translation  of  the 
sacred  volume  into  its  own  extraordinary  language. 
The  name  of  Mr.  Buchanan  appears  in  the  year 
1S05  in  the  list  of  members  of  the  Asiatic  Society. 
Pie  had  probably  been  elected  previously  to  that 
period,  and  if  he  did  not  contribute  to  the  curious 
and  valuable  ''  researches  "  of  that  learned  body,  it 
was  not  so  much  from  any  want  of  interest  in  their 
labors,  as  from  the  pressure  of  his  various  employ- 
ments, which  allowed  him  only  to  devote  his  leisure 
to  inquiries  which  were  exclusively  of  an  ecclesi- 
astical and  ielis:iou3  nature. 


AT  CALCUTTA.  829 

Two  letters  to  one  of  his  friends  in  this  year  con- 
tain proofs  of  the  paternal  anxiety  with  which  Mr. 
Buchanan  watched  over  the  progress  of  the  stu- 
dents of  Fort  William.  The  weekly  reports  of  the 
ditferent  pn»fessors  as  to  tlie  proficiency  of  their 
classes  were  delivered  to  him  every  Saturday. 
Their  representations,  whether  favorable  or  other- 
wise, were  by  him  communicated  to  the  college 
council,  and  ultimately  through  them,  or  himself, 
as  their  organ,  to  the  Governor  General.  Mr.  Bu- 
chanan mentions  several  instances  of  the  beneficial 
effects  of  this  watchful  superintendence  in  stimula- 
ting even  those  who  would  otherwise  have  re- 
mained incorrigibly  indolent  to  diligence  and  exer- 
tion. In  a  few  cases  the  discipline  which  had  been 
originally  announced  was  firmly  and  impartially 
enforced  ;  sometimes,  but  very  rarely,  by  absolute 
removal  from  college,  and  the  consequent  loss  of 
promotion  in  the  service  ;  at  others,  by  the  kind 
intervention  of  Mr.  Buchanan  with  the  Governor 
General,  in  cases  which  admitted  of  apology  or 
excuse,  by  permission  to  retire,  and  an  appoint- 
ment which  sufficiently  marked  the  circumstances 
of  inferiority  in  which  the  neglect  of  college  duties 
had  issued.  Upon  one  such  occasion  Mr.  Bucha* 
nan  thus  writes  : 


"  It  would  have  given  me  great  satisfaction  to  have? 
been  able  to  send  you  such  gratifying  letters  as  I 
Buchanan.  20 


230  MEMOIR    OF    DR.    BUCHANAN. 

have  often  written,  and  am  now  writing,  to  various 
families  in  England,  Scotland,  and  Ireland,  respect- 
ing their  sons  who  have  passed  a  long  period  in  dili- 
gent study,  acquired  honors,  and  then  lucrative 
appointments.  But  it  has  been  ordered  otherwise. 
Perhaps  all  will  be  well.  Poor  .  .  .  ."  (speaking 
of  a  student  who  had  lately  died,)  "had  certainly 
been  cherishing  solemn  and  serious  purposes  the 
fortnight  before  his  death  ;  and  he  no  doubt  died 

the  child  of  many  prayers may  yet  prove 

himself  to  be  the  child  of  religious  parents.  Their 
case,  however,  speaks  loudly  to  us  who  are  fathers, 
leaching  us  to  walk  with  humility  and  fear  before 
God,  committing  our  children  to  him  in  prayer 
and  tears,  and  with  much  wrestling  for  a  blessing 
on  them  when  they  depart  from  us.  The  world 
says,  '  He  who  hath  children  hath  given  pledges 
to  fortune.'  The  christian  knows  how  this  is  to  be 
translated." 

Upon  the  general  subject  of  religion  in  Calcutta 
Mr.  Buchanan  srave  the  followinor  encoura^ino^  ac- 
counts  to  one  of  his  correspondents  : 

*'  We  have  had  divine  service  at  the  mission 
church,  lately,  for  the  settlement.  The  punkas 
make  it  very  pleasant ;  but  it  was  found  to  be  too 
small  for  the  auditory,  many  families  going  away 
every  Sunday  morning,  seats  being  in  general  oc- 
cupied an  hour  before  service. 


AT   CALCUTTA.  23l 

"  You  will  be  glad  to  hear  that still  per- 

fieveres  in  listening  to  sacred  things,  as  do  many 
other  young  political  servants  whom  you  do  not 
know.  The  demand  for  religious  books,  particu- 
larly of  evangelical  principles,  has  been  very  great 
these  two  last  years.  INIessrs.  Dring  told  me  they 
had  sold  an  investment  of  fifty  Svo  Bibles  in  th(r 
course  of  three  months  " 

In  a  subsequent  letter  he  says  :  *'  On  account  of 
the  increase  of  our  couGTesrations  we  are  about  to 

o      o 

have  two  morning  services  on  Sunday,  the  first  at 
seven  o'clock,  in  the  old  church,  and  the  second  at 
the  usual  hour  of  ten,  at  the  new.  This  is  very 
agreeable  to  a  great  majority.  Only  Mr.  Brown 
and  myself  will  oillciate  at  the  old  church.  We 
shall  of  course  (at  leavSt  I  shall)  continue  to  offi- 
ciate as  usual  at  the  new." 

About  this  time  Mr.  Buchanan  thus  mentions  to 
a  friend  and  relative  the  mixed  nature  of  the  con- 
gregations in  Calcutta  : 

''  \Vc  have  some  of  all  sects  in  our  congrega- 
tions;  Presbyterians,  Independents,  Baptists,  Me- 
thodists,  Armenians,  Grreeks,  and  Nestorians.  And 
some  of  these  are  part  of  my  audience  at  the  Eng- 
lish church. 

"  I  must  lie  down  awhile  and  dictate  to  an  ama- 
nuensis, for  it  is  very  hot.  The  thermometer  is  to- 
day near  110. 


232  MEMOIR    OF    DR.    BUCHANAN. 

" used  in  former  life  to  prosecute  all 

he  took  in  hand  with  enthusiasm.  He  thought  no- 
thing done  right  if"  not  done  with  all  his  might.  So, 
perhaps,  it  is  in  his  religion  and  private  life.  He  i* 
actuated  by  a  pure,  genuine  enthusiasm.  Eternity, 
lie  says,  has  opened  to  his  view,  and  he  would  save 
the  sQuls  of  men.  We  shall  judge  him  by  his  woiks 
a  few  years  hence. 

"  When  the  Hindoo  had  laid  down  the  pen,  and 
I  had  got  up  from  my  couch,  he  asked  me  what 
kind  of  a  thing  a  Methodist  was.  I  told  him  that  it 
was  a  christian  man  in  the  little  isle  of  Britain,  who 
prayed  too  much,  and  was  '  righteous  overmuch  !' 
The  lad  stared,  and  said,  how  can  that  be  1  So  it  is, 
said  I ;  behold  that  man,  (pointing  to 's  pic- 
ture,) who  is  reputed  a  Methodist  in  England,  and 
is  a  subject  of  ridicule  on  account  of  his  excessive 
godliness.  '  Among  us,'  replied  the  Hindoo,  *  he 
would  thereby  acquire  the  more  reverence  and 
veneration.'  " 

At  the  close  of  one  of  the  preceding  letters  Mr. 
Buchanan  expressed  his  fears  as  to  the  result  of 
some  public  measures  concerning  which  he  had 
formed  sanguine  expectations  ;  but  not  long  after- 
wards he  wrote  in  a  more  animated,  and,  as  before, 
in  a  prophetic  strain. 

'*  The  war  seems  to  be  now  near  its  close ;  and 
it  will  probably  be  followed  by  a  long  reign  of 


AT   CAlCUtTA.  23tT 

peace  \n  India.  Having  obtained  complete  domi- 
nion over  it,  wc  shall  then  bless  it  with  the  word 
of  life ;  and  Christ  \Vill  be  once  more  glorified  in 
the  East." 

The  fourth  armnal  disputations  in  the  oriental 
latiGToasfes  in  the  collesfc  of  Fort  William  were  held 
this  year  in  the  month  of  February,  in  the  presence 
of  Marquis  Wellesley  and  the  superior  member.-? 
of  the  governntent.  Upon  this  occasion  it  was  main- 
tained in  Hindostanee,  that  "  the  oriental  languages 
are  studied  with  more  advantasrie  in  India  than  in 
England,  and  with  greater  advantage  to  the  public 
service.'^  And  in  Persian,  that  that  language  is  of 
more  utility  in  the  general  administration  of  the 
British  empire  in  India  than  the  Hindostanee.  In 
addition  to  declamations  in  Bengalee  and  Arabic, 
one  was  pronounced  for  the  first  time  in  the  Mah- 
ratta  language.  In  the  speech  which  Lord  Welles- 
ley  delivered  after  the  distribution  of  the  prize."^ 
and  honorary  rewards,  his  lordship  observed  that 
the  general  zeal,  industry,  and  spirit  of  study  in 
the  C(jllege  had  not  declined,  notwithstanding  the 
contraction  of  the  sphere  of  emulation  and  compe- 
tition by  the  separation  which  had  now  taken  place 
of  the  gentlemen  of  the  establishments  of  Fort  St. 
George, (Madras,) and  Bombay. 

"  Since  the  last  meeting,"  continued  his  lord- 
ship, "  the  promotion  of  oriental  knowledge  in  the 
BritisV.  service  in  India  has  proceeded  with  in- 
20* 


234  MEMOIR    OF    DR.    BUCHANAN- 

creased  success  by  the  progress  of  the  studies  and 
labors  of  the  gentlemen  of  this  college. 

"  The  attention  also  of  the  officers  and  students^ 
of  the  college  appears  to  have  been  successfully 
directed  to  those  important  objects  of  discipline,- 
regularity,  and  good  order,  which  formed  an  essen- 
tial part  of  my  recent  admonitions  from  this  place^ 

"  The  most  eminent  and  brilliant  success  in  the 
highest  objects  of  study  will  prove  an  inadequate 
qualification  for  the  service  of  the  Company,  and 
of  our  country  in  India,  if  the  just  application  of 
those  happy  attainments  be  not  secured  by  a  so- 
lid foundation  of  virtuous  principles  and  correct 
conduct." 

In  consequence  of  the  reduction  in  the  extent  of 
the  college  of  Fort  William,  refeired  to  in  the  pre- 
ceding speech,  the  Governor  General  thought  it 
expedient,  by  a  minute  in  council,  dated  the  30th 
of  April,  1805,  to  declare  that  the  duties  at  present 
committed  to  the  provost  and  vice-provost  of  the 
college  might  be  performed  in  future  by  one  offi- 
cer only,  with  the  designation  of  provost.  His  ex- 
cellency, however,  deemed  it  to  be  proper,  in  con- 
sideration, as  he  was  pleased  to  express  it,  "  of  the 
highly  meritorious  and  useful  services  rendered  to 
the  college  by  the  present  provost  and  vice-provost, 
Mr.  Brown  and  Mr.  Buchanan,"  to  postpone  the 
adoption  of  this  arrangement  until  a  vacancy  should 


AT    CALCUTTA.  235 

occur  in  one  of  those  offices,  provided  tliat  tlic  ho- 
norable the  Court  of  Directors  should  be  pleased 
to  sanction  the  continuance  of  the  allowances  to  the 
provost  and  vice-provost  until  that  time. 

By  the  same  minute  the  Governor  General  re* 
scinded  that  part  of  the  original  regulation  of  the 
college  by  which  pensions  were  to  be  eventually 
granted  to  certain  of  its  officers,  including  the  pro- 
vost and  vice-provost,  until  the  farther  pleasure  of 
the  Court  of  Directors  should  have  been  received. 

Mr.  Buchanan,  believing  that  "good  men  in  Eng- 
land were  yet  in  ignorance  respecting  the  purpose 
or  effects  of  this  institution,"  compiled  in  the  spring 
of  1S05,  and  transmitted,  together  with  his  Eccle- 
siastical Memoir,  to  this  country,  where  it  was  pub- 
lished towards  the  end  of  the  year,  a  treatise  enti- 
tled "  The  College  of  Fort  William  in  Bengal." 
The  volume  contains  the  official  papers  and  the  li- 
terary proceedings  of  the  college  during  its  first 
four  years  ;  the  public  examinations  in  regular  se- 
ries, with  a  list  of  the  students  who  had  entered  on 
service,  and  a  register  of  those  who  had  obtained 
degrees  of  honor  ;  a  catalogue  of  works  in  the  ori- 
ental languages  and  literature,  published  by  mem- 
bers of  the  colles^e  since  its  commencement ;  the 
names  and  offices  of  those  who  had  borne  any  part 
in  the  conduct  of  the  institution  ;  and  some  remarks 
by  the  editor' on  the  primary  establishment  of  the 
college,  and  on  the  operation  of  its  first  four  years. 


236  MEMOIR    OF    DR.    BUCHANAN. 

In  these  remarks,  ]\Ir.  Buchanan,  after  noticing 
the  necessity  and  importance  of  such  an  institution, 
which  had  been  proved  by  its  triumph  over  the 
most  powerful  and  systematic  opposition,  observes 
that  the  j^uhlication  of  a  hundred  original  volumes 
in  the  oriental  languages  and  literature  in  the  term 
of  four  years,  is  no  inconsiderable  proof  of  the 
flourishing  state  of  th&  college  as  a  literary  insti- 
tution. That  was,-  however^  but  one  of  its  subordi'^ 
iiate  objects. 

Towards  the  end  of  the  year  1804,  and  the  com- 
mencement of  the  fallowing  year,  a  considerable 
degree  of  opposition  to  the  doctrines  inculcated  by 
Messrs.  Brown  and  Buchanan  had  been  manifested 
by  two  or  three  of  the  other  chaplains  of  the  Presi- 
dency. Mr.  Buchanan  was  in  consequence  induced 
to  preach  a  series  of  discoirrses  on  the  doctrinal 
articles  of  the  church  of  England.  These  sermons 
were  of  a  very  superior  order,  and  were  produc- 
tive of  a  corresponding  efteet  in  cheeking  the  cla- 
mor which  had  given  birth  to  them. 

In  prosecution  of  the  design  which  Mr,  Buchan'an 
had  conceived  of  efiectually  exciting  the  public  at- 
tention to  the  obligations  of  Great  Britain  to  pro- 
mote the  religious  welfare  of  its  oriental  dominions, 
and  which  he  had  already  partially  executed  by  the 
proposal  of  his  first  series  of  prizes,  and  the  publi- 
cation of  his  own  "  Memoir  j"  he  on  the  fourth  of 
June,  1S05,  addressed  to  the  vice-ebancellors  of  the 


AT  CALCUTTA.  237 

universities  of  Oxford  and  Cambridge  the  proposal 
of  the  following  subjects  of  prize  composition  : 

"  For  the  best  work  in  English  prose,  embracing 
the  following  subjects  : 

"  I.  The  'probable  design  of  the  Divine  Provi- 
dence in  subjecting  so  large  a  portion  of  Asia  to 
the  British  dominion. 

**  ir.  The  duty,  the  means,  and  the  conse- 
quences of  translating  the  Scriptures  into  the  ori- 
ental tongues,  and  of  promoting  christian  know- 
ledge in  Asia. 

"  III.  A  brief  historic  view  of  the  progress  of  the 
Gospel  in  different  nations  since  its  first  promul- 
gation ;  illustrated  by  maps,  showing  its  luminous 
tract  throughout  the  world  ;  with  chronological  no- 
tices of  its  duration  in  particular  places." 

The  candidates  were  permitted  to  prefix  such 
title  to  the  proposed  work  as  they  might  think  pro- 
per; and  the  munificent  prize  offered  by  Mr.  Bu- 
clianan  upon  this  occasion  to  each  university  was 
the  sum  of  five  hundred  pounds.  He  directed  that 
the  prizes  should  be  determined  on  the  fourth  of 
June,  1807,  being  the  anniversary  of  the  birth  of 
our  venerable  sovereign  ;  "  whose  religious  exam- 
ple," Mr.  Buchanan  added,  *'  had  extended  its  in- 
fluence to  that  remote  part  of  his  empire." 

The  letters  conveying  intelligence  of  these  very 


238  MEMOIR    OF    r>R.    BUCIIAXAN. 

liberal  offers  were  received  towards  the  close  of  the 
year.  They  were  soon  afterwards  accepted  by  both 
universities  ;  and  the  spring  of  the  year  1807  was 
appointed  as  the  period  for  the  delivery  of  the 
prize  compositions  to  the  judges  who  were  to  de- 
termine their  merits. 

A  few  days  subsequent  to  the  date  of  these  pro- 
posals to  the  English  universities,  and  not  long  be- 
fore the  departure  of  Marquis  Wellesley  from  Ben- 
gal, Mr.  Buchanan  communicated  to  his  lordship 
his  wish  to  be  absent  from  Calcutta  during  four 
months,  for  the  benefit  of  his  health,  which  his  re- 
sidence and  labors  in  India  had  considerably  ira- 
pau  ed ;  and  for  the  purpose  of  proceeding  to  the 
coast  of  Malabar,  with  a  view  of  obtaining  infor- 
mation relative  to  certain  religious  objects,  which 
were  particularly  specified  in  his  letter,  and  will  be 
hereafter  fully  detailed. 

With  this  request  the  Governor  General  signi- 
fied officially  his  ready  compliance,  together  with 
his  entire  approbation  of  Mr.  Buchanan's  intended 
journey.  It  was  added  that  the  governments  of 
Fort  St.  George  and  Bombay  would  be  requested 
to  afford  him  every  assistance,  as  well  in  the  pro- 
gress of  his  journey,  by  the  accommodation  of  the 
dawk  bearers,  or  other  conveyances  of  government, 
as  in  the  prosecution  of  his  inquiries  on  the  coast 
of  Malabar. 

While  Mr.  Buchanan  was  preparing  for  this  im- 


AT   CALCUTTA.  239 

)^irtant  and  interesting  journey,  lie  was,  for  the 
])resent,  prevented  from  fulfilling  his  intentions  by 
a  serious  illness,  the  approach  of  which  he  first  per- 
ceived on  the  13th  of  August.  He  was  well  enough 
to  meet  Lord  AVollesley  at  dinner  the  next  day, 
and  on  the  two  following  complained  only  of  weak- 
ness and  languor.  On  the  17th  a  decided  attack 
of  fever  came  on  ;  and  on  the  19th  danger  was  ap- 
piehended  by  his  physician. 

Of  tliis  alarming  illness  a  brief  but  remarkable 
memorial  has  been  preserved  in  the  hand-writing 
of  jNlr.  Brown,  who  appears  to  have  attended  and 
watcheJ  over  his  valued  friend  and  coadjutor  with 
fraternal  anxiety  and  affection.  The  feelings  and 
sentiments  of  Mr.  Buchanan  at  this  trying  season, 
as  described  in  the  paper  alluded  \o,  are  such  as, 
while  they  may  surprise  a  certain  class  of  readers, 
will  appear  to  better  judges  to  be  the  genuine  effu- 
sions of  a  pious  mind  alive  to  the  apprehended  so- 
lemnities of  a  dying  hour. 

Ou  the  evening  of  the  20th  of  August  Mr.  Bu- 
j-.hanan  spoke  much  to  his  friend  of  his  state  and 
views ;  said  that  he  had  been  looking  for  his  hope 
in  the  Bible,  and  that  he  had  found  it  in  the  51st 
Psalm,  and  in  the  history  of  the  penitent  thief  upon 
the  cross.  He  at  the  same  time  gave  directions  to 
Mr.  Brown  respecting  the  college,  his  papers,  and 
his  affairs.  The  next  day  Mr.  Buchanan  was  still 
more  strongly   impressed   with  the  idea  that  he 


240  MEMOIR   or    DR.    BUCHANAN. 

should  not  recover.  Under  this  persuasion,  he  men- 
tioned the  place  in  which  he  wish^jd  to  be  interred, 
made  some  observations  respecting  his  books,  and 
desired  that  his  sermons  might  be  published  after 
the  arrival  of  his  "Memoir"  in  India. 

Mr.  Buchanan  next  adverted  to  his  experience 
and  views  as  a  christian  ;  declared  his  entire  renun- 
ciation of  his  own  merits  as  any  ground  of  accept- 
ance with  God,  lamented  his  unprofitableness,  and 
spoke  of  himself  in  terms  of  the  deepest  humility. 
He  then  asfain  referred  to  the  church  and  to  the 

o 

college,  and  suggested  various  hints  respecting 
both.  After  this  he  recurred  to  his  present  feelings 
and  circumstances.  He  expressed  his  fear  of  living, 
and  his  desire  of  being  received  as  the  least  and 
lowest  of  the  servants  of  God.  He  was  anxious  to 
glorify  him  by  his  death,  and  prayed  to  be  pre- 
served from  the  enemy  at  the  last  hour,  that  he 
might  not  do  or  say  any  thing  to  weaken  the  testi- 
mony he  had  borne  to  the  truth  in  that  place. 
There  was  nothing,  he  said,  upon  earth,  for  which 
he  had  a  wish,  besides  his  wife  and  children ;  that 
she  was  much  before  him  in  experimental  know- 
ledge,  and  had  been  twice  on  the  wing  to  leave  the 
world ;  (he  knew  not,  alas  !  that  she  had  in  fact  al- 
ready taken  her  flight !)  that  his  children  would  be 
brought  up  in  the  nurture  and  admonition  of  the 
Lord ;  that  if  sent  to  Scotland,  they  would  be  in 
the  heart  of  Sunday-schools  and  of  true  religion ;  or 


AT    CALCUTTA.  241 

that  ill  England  the  .  .  .'s,  atid  other  friends  who 
feared  God,  would  take  care  of  tliem.  After  thus 
speaking  of  his  children,  Mr.  Buchanan  alluded  to 
a  painful  letter  which  he  had  lately  received  from 
one  (jf  his  correspondents ;  and  lamented  what  he 
considered  his  unkindness  in  forbearing  to  encou- 
]  age  him  during  the  labors  of  the  last  five  years. 
He  then  expressed  a  hope  that  his  death  would 
prove  useful  to  two  persons  whom  he  particularly 
named. 

On  the  morning  of  the  22d  Mr.  Brown,  on  en- 
tering his  sick  chamber,  found  him  still  fixed  in  his 
opinion  that  he  should  die,  and  opening  his  spiri- 
tual state  to  another  christian  friend.  He  then  took 
a  review  of  the  way  in  which  the  providence  of 
God  had  led  him  from  his  earliest  years  ;  and  gave 
hiy  friends  a  brief  sketch  of  his  history  :  the  roman- 
tic project  of  his  youth ;  his  residence  in  London  ; 
his  conversion  to  the  faith  and  practice  of  a  real 
christian  ;  his  career  at  Cambridge  ;  his  voyage  to 
India;  and  his  comparative  banishment  during  the 
first  three  years  of  his  residence  in  that  country. 
At  this  critical  period,  Mr.  Buchanan  observed,  his 
call  by  Lord  Wellesley  to  the  chaplaincy  of  the 
presidency,  and  the  subsequent  establishment  of 
the  college,  had  given  him  an  important  work  to 
perform ;  that  his  preaciiiiig,  indeed,  had  been  un- 
satisfactory to  himself;  but  that  his  spiritual  labors 
and  opportunities  in  college,  though  desultory,  had 

Euclianau.  ^1 


24S  MEMOIR   DP    DR.    BUCHANAN. 

often  afforded  him  comft)rt.  He  added,  says  Mn 
Brown,  "  that  I  must  preach,"  probably  intending 
his  funeral  sermon,  "  though  he  felt  himself  un- 
worthy to  choose  a  text ;  yet  that  it  must  be  from 
these  words,  '  Being  justified  by  faith,  we  have 
peace  with  God,'  " 

"After  praying  earnestly/'  continues  Mr.  Brown, 
**  for  some  time,  he  lay  quite  still,  and  then  with 
great  tranquillity  and  satisfaction  said,  '  What  a 
happy  moment !  Now  I  am  resigned  ;  now  I  de- 
sire not  to  live.  I  am  unworthy  of  this.'  He  then 
spoke  of  his  hope,  and  said  that  he  could  only  be 
saved  by  grace." 

After  this  conversation  Mr.  Buchanan  mentioned 
his  wishes  concerning  his  funeral  and  monument, 
and  spoke  of  his  departure  from  the  world  as  a 
happy  deliverance  from  the  evils  which  he  foresaw 
he  should  have  to  encounter  if  he  were  to  return 
to  Europe.  Alluding  to  his  intended  journey,  which 
his  present  illness  had  prevented,  he  said,  "  I  am 
now  about  to  travel,  not  an  earthly  journey,  but  still 
to  '  unknown  regions  of  the  Gospel.*  1  sliall  now 
})ass  over  the  heads  of  old  men  laboring  usefully 
for  Christ ;  and  at  this  early  period  be  advanced 
to  see  what  'eye  hath  not  seen,  nor  ear  heard, 
neither  have  entered  into  the  heart  of  man,'  and 
behold  discoveries  of  the  glory  of  Christ,  '  God  ma- 
nifest in  the  flesh,'  who  hath  come  to  us,  and  kindly 


AT   CAtCUTTA,  2 13 

taken  us  by  the  hand.  He  will  lift  us  out  of  the 
deep  waters,  and  set  us  at  his  own  right  hand.  I 
once  saw  not  the  things  I  now  see  ;  I  knew  not  the 
Gospel.  Now  I  pray  that  the  little  I  have  known 
may  be  perfected,  and  that  God  would  complete 
his  work  on  my  soul." 

Mr.  Brown  adds  that  hi.s  apparently  dying  fiiend 
was  almost  continually  praying,  in  a  humble,  sub- 
missive, patient,  and  fervent  tone,  for  mercy  and 
grace  through  Jesus  Christ ;  and,  with  the  apostle^ 
that  God  might  be  glorified  by  his  life  or  death. 

Such  is  the  interesting  and  instructive  memorial 
which  remains  of  this  alarming  illness  of  Mr.  Bu- 
chanan. While  it  demonstrates  the  excellence  and 
the  solidity  of  the  principles  which  could  thus  sup- 
port him,  it  must  surely  excite  in  the  mind  of  every 
reader  a  conviction  of  their  value,  and  an  earnest 
desire  to  possess  the  same  eonsofetian  in  a  seasort 
of  similar  trial. 

Of  the  progress  of  his  recovery  nothing  is  parti- 
cularly recorded.  The  fever  appears  gradually  to 
have  subsided  ;  and  on  the  4th  of  September  he 
was  so  far  restored  as  to  be  able  to  remove  to Bai- 
rackpore  for  change  of  air,  and  afterwards  to  Sook- 
sagur,  about  forty  miles  above  Calcutta.  The  re- 
membrance, however,  of  his  illness,  and  the  im- 
pressions which  an  anticipated  death-bed  had  made 
upon  his  mind,  instead  of  being  obliterated,  as-  ir^ 
too  many  instances,  by  returning  health,  were- ever 


244  MEMOIR    OP    DR.    BUCHANAN. 

afterwards  cherished  and  retained.  The  scene  was, 
perhaps,  intended  to  prepare  him  for  the  painful 
trial  which  was  approaching;  and  both,  as  we  shall 
shortly  perceive,  produced  the  happy  effect  of 
quickening  him  in  his  christian  course,  and  of  ren* 
dering  him  even  more  zealous  and  unwearied  in 
the  service  of  his  heavenly  Master. 

One  of  Mr.  Buchanan's  first  exertions  of  reco- 
vered health  was  in  writing  the  following  reply  to 
a  pious  man,  who  appears  to  have  been  known  to 
him  dui'ing  the  early  part  of  his  residence  in  Eng- 
land, and  to  have  been  employed  as  a  humble 
preacher  of  the  Gospel.  It  was  found  among  the 
papers  of  the  late  Mr.  Henry  Thornton,  to  whom 
it  had  probably  been  sent  by  the  person  to  whom  it 
was  addressed,  for  the  purpose  which  the  letter  it- 
self will  explain.  The  christian  kindness  and  hu- 
mility which  it  breathes  sufficiently  authorize  its 
insertion* 

CALCUTT.i,  September  3d,  1805. 

'*  My  DEAft  Friend, — I  received  your  letter  by 

Mr.  B about  five  years  ago,  and  in  consequence 

took  him  into  my  house  for  some  time.  The  young 
man  is  in  the  army,  and  conducts  himself,  I  hear, 
with  propriety.  I  am  sorry  to  find  that  my  answer 
to  your  letter  on  that  occasion  has  never  reach- 
ed you. 

"  A  few  days  ago  I  received  your  letter  of  the 


AT   CALf,UTTA,  245 

4th  of  Nove«iber,  ISOl,  by  Mr,  Taylor,  a  mission- 
ary to  India.  In  that  letter  you  mention  that  you 
are  still  poor;  and,  what  is  better,  that  you  preach 
the  G-ospel  to  the  poor.  After  so  long  an  interval, 
it  gives  me  great  pleasure  to  learirthat  you  are  yet-v 
found  faithful,  and  that  in  the  midst  of  your  poverty  ^ 
you  have  ftumd  the  '  unsearchable  riches,'  Your 
heavenly  Father  knoweth  best  what  is  good  for 
you  ;  and  he  hath,  no  doubt,  led  you  hitherto  in 
that  narrow  and  peculiar  path  which  was  suited  to 
your  state,  and;  necessary  for  the  advancement  of 
his  glory. 

"  1  have,  on  the  other  hand",  been  led  in  a  broader 
road  and  a  more-  dangerous  way.  If  I  have  been^ 
preserved,  if  I  am  yet,  in  any  measure,  faithful  iii, 
dispensing  the  Gospel,  and  in  promoting  by  va- 
riotis  means  the  interests  of  Christ's- kingdom,  it  is 
mercy  ;  far  more  distinguished  mercy,  as-  it  appears^ 
to  me,  than  that  which  has  been  manifested  in  you.. 
The  Gospel  is  not  without  its  witness  even  in  this 
place.  The  company  of  the  faithful  is  increasing^ 
and  the  oppoi'tunities  of  publishing  the  good  tid- 
ings are  multiplying. 

"  I  enclose-  to  you  a  note  on  my  agents  in  Lon- 
don for  tifty  pounds.  I  should  send  you  more  if  I 
thought  it  would  do  you  any  good^  If  you  should 
want  more,  ask  -Mr.  Henry  Thornton  for  ft^  and  I 
will  repay  him. 

"  I  was  much  pleased  with  your  account  of  your 
21* 


246  MEMOIR    OF    DTI.    nrCHANAN. 

aged  father.  I  think,  on  the  whole,  you  have  reason 
to  be  thankful  that  your  family  are  so  well  disposed 
of  in  the  course  of  years  and  worldly  revolution, 
it  seemeth  good  to  providence  to  keep  you  all  in  a 
strait  estate  ;  and  that  is  the  general  dispensation-. 
to  God's  favored  people. 

"  That  you  may  be  blessed  yourself,  and  continue 
to  be  a  blessing  to  others,  is  the  prayer  of, 
"  Dear  sir,  jour  sincere  friend, 

"  C.  Buchanan."" 

During  the  temporary  retreat  of  Mr.  Bachanaw 
at  Sooksagur  for  the  re-establishment  of  his  health, 
he  was  diligently  employed  in  Hebrew,  Syriac,  and 
Chaldaic  studies,  with  various  accompaniments  of 
rabbinical  and  other  commerjtators.  In  the  midst,, 
however,  of  this  occupation,  he  v/as  interrupted  by 
the  aiflictinor  intellio^ence  of  the  death  of  Mr*.  Bu- 
chanan.  This  distressing,  though  in  some  measure 
expected  event,  had  taken  place  on  the  ISth  »f 
June,  on  board  the  East-India  ship  in  which  she 
was  returning  to  England,  off  the  island  of  St, 
Helena.  Of  Mr.  Buchanan'^s  feelings  upon  this 
mournful  occasion,  as  well  as  respecting  his  own 
late  illness,  the  two  following  letters  will  afford  an 
affecting  and  truly  interesting  picture.  The  first  is 
to  his  friend  Colonel  Sandys  : 

"SooKSAGi/R,  near  Calcutta,  Oct.  22,  1805. 
"  My  dear  Sandys, — I  have  been  at  this  place 


AT   CALCUTTA.  247 

for  some  time  past,  in  the  hope  of  getting  a  little 
strength.  I  was  visited  by  a  fever  about  two 
months  ago,  and  was  despaired  of  for  a  day  (^r 
two.  But  the  prayers  of  the  righteous  were  oftur- 
ed  up,  and  my  days  have  been  prolonged.  It  was 
with  a  kind  of  reluctance  I  felt  myself  carried  back 
by  tlie  refluent  waves  to  encounter  again  the 
storms  of  this  life,  for  I  had  hoped  the  fight  was 
done.  Although  unprofitable  has  been  my  life,  and 
feeble  my  exerlio!is,  yet  I  was  more  afraid  of  the 
trials  to  come,  if  I  should  survive,  than  of  depart- 
ing to  my  rest,  if  it  was  the  will  of  God.  I  had 
made  a  disposition  of  my  fortune  to  Mary  and  her 
pious  purposes,  (for  she  too  had  undertakings  in 
view,)  believing  that  she  would  be  much  more  use- 
ful than  I  could.  My  first  care  on  my  convales- 
cence was  to  write  to  her  an  account  of  that  event. 
In  a  few  days  afterwards  the  Calcutta  Indiaman 
arrived  from  St.  Helena,  and  brought  me  the  news 
of  my  dear  Mary's  decease  !  Before  she  went  away 
1  perceived  that  her  affections  were  nearly  wean- 
ed from  this  world  ;  and  she  often  sr.id  that  she 
thought  God  was  preparing  her  for  his  presence  in 
glory.  She  was  greatly  favored  in  her  near  access 
to  God  in  prayer;  and  she  delighted  in  retirement 
and  sacred  meditation.  She  was  jealous  of  herself 
latteily  when  she  anticipated  the  happiness  of  our 
all  meeting  in  England,  and  endeavored  to  chastise 
the  thousht. 


248  MEMOIR.  QE   DR.    DUSHANAX.- 

''^Her  suife rings  were  great,  but  she  aecGUfite<i 
Rer  consolations  greater  ^  and  she  used  to  admire 
the  goodness  of  God  to  her  in  bringing  her  to  a 
knowledge  of  the  truth  at  so  early  an  age.  It  was 
her  intention,- had  she  lived  to  reach  Eaigland,  to- 
have  gone  down  with  her  two  little  girls  to  visit 
you  ;  saying,  '  We  shall  behold  each  other  as-  two- 
new  creatures.'  You  had  been  accused  to  her  of 
being  too  peculiar,  and  she  wished  to  see  what 
was  amiss. 

"  When  she  found  her  dissolution  drawing  near^ 
she  solemnly  devoted  her  two  little  girls  to  God^. 
and  prayed  that  he  would  be  their  Father,  and 
bring  them  up  in  his  holy  fear,  and  preserve  them< 
from  the  vanities  of  this  evil  world.  She  said  she- 
could  willingly  die  for  the  souls  of  her  children  ; 
and  she  did  die  in  the  confident  hope  of  seeing 
them  both  in  glory. 

"  Having  had  it  in  ooiitemplation  to  follow  my 
dear  Mary  to  England  next  year,  I  had  let  my 
house  at  Garden  Reach  to-  Sir  John>  D'Oyly.  I 
had  alsa  sold  my  furniture,  horses,  &c'.- previously 
to  my  proceeding  to  Malabar..  But  in  the  mean- 
time I  fell  sick.;  and  now  that  I  have  recovered,  I 
mean  to  defer  my  journey  to  the  coast  till  the  new 
government  be  settled.  Sir  George  Barlow  is  at 
present  up  the  country  ;  Mr.  Udny  is  deputy-go- 
vernor. Both  of  them  are  warm  supporters  of  re- 
ligious improvement  in  India>.  aad  I  trust  they  will 


AT   CAt.CUTTA.  249 

cIo  goo(].  They  know  nothing  of  my  '  Memoii/ 
nor  any  one  else  but  Mr.  Brown. 

"  The  B.'s  here  are  affectionately  concerned  in 
my  recovery,  and  pay  me  every  attention  in  their 
power.  I  do  not  know  whether  I  shall  go  to  Eng- 
land next  year  or  not ;  I  am  now  a  desolate  old 
man,  though  young  in  years.  But  my  path  will,  I 
doubt  not,  be  made  '  clear  as  the  noon  day.' 

"  By  your  late  letters  I  see  that  you  are  '  flour- 
ishing like  a  palm-tree.'  How  often  have  you 
passed  the  palm-tree  in  India,  without  comparing 
it  to  the  righteous  man  ! 

'*  My  dear  Mary's  name  and  character  was  lat- 
terly well  known  among  the  excellent  of  the  earth  ; 
and  her  memory  has  left  a  fragrance  for  years  to 
come." 

Mr.  Buchanan  then  mentions  the  lamented  and 
unexpected  death  of  the  Marquis  Cornwallis,  who 
had  lately  arrived  to  resume  the  government  of  the 
country,  which  had  been  already  so  signally  bene- 
fited by  his  former  administration  : 

"  The  body,"  he  observes,  of  this  illustrious  no- 
bleman, "  had  no  honoiable  interment ;  neither  a 
clergyman  to  reail  the  office,  nor  a  coffin  to  put  it 
in.  Thus  ended  his  earthly  name  and  greatness. 
God  promised  to  Jacob,  as  a  temporal  blessing,  that 
his  son  Joseph  '  should  close  his  eyes.*  It  is  indeed 


250  ME-.MOIP.    OF    DR.    BUCHANAN. 

fi  blessing  to  have  a  righteous  son  or  daughter  to- 
hallow  our  remahis  in  death.  May  you  have  thaf 
son,  and  I  that  daug;^hter  ! 

"  Yours  affectionately, 

"  C.  Buchanan." 

The  second  of  the  two  letters  relative  to  the 
death  of  Mrs.  Buchanan  is  to  another  friend,  who 
well  knew  her  worth,  and  sincerely  sympathized 
with  Mr.,  Buchanan  under  his  loss. 

"  SooKSAGUR,  24th  Oct.  1805. 

•*  My  dear  SiR,r— Your  letter  of  March  18th,  of 
this  yeai',  addressed  to  my  dear  Mary,  arrived  here 
about  a  month  ago.  A  few  days  afterwards  I  re- 
ceived the  account  of  her  death. 

"  You  will  rejoice  to  hear  that,  when  she  was 
preparing  to  leave  India,  she  considered  herself  as 
preparing  for  another  and-  better  country  thaft 
England. 

"^  She  enjoyed  latterly  much  coram  union  with 
God  in  prayer;  and  often-,  when  she  came  out  of 
her  closet,  the  gleam  on  her  countenance  evinced 
her  peace  and  acceptance.  The  words-  of  some 
kymn  to  her  Redeemer  were  often  on  her  lips.. 
You,  I  believe,  knew  enough  of  her  to  make  you 
consider  this  portrait  of  her  last  days  to  be  true. 
She  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-five.  She  considered 
that  the  period  of  her  sufferings  (only,  she  said^ 


AT    CALCUTTA.  251 

ihi^ec  or  four  years)  was  very  short,  and  wondered 
at  the  goodness  of  God  in  so  early  calling  her  to 
his  glory.  She  lamented  that  she  could  never  be 
'  made  perfect  by  suffering;'  and  therefore  viewed 
the  end  of  her  probation  with  great  comfort,  and 
latterly  with  joyful  anticipation.  She  expressed 
and  felt  strong  affection  towards  you  and  your 
family.  In  the  last  page  of  your  letter  to  Mrs.  Bu- 
chanan, you  remind  her  of  ihe  promise,  *  Be  thou 
faithful  unto  death,  and  1  will  give  thee  a  crown  of 
life.'  These  words  were  prophetic.  You  wrote 
them  on  the  ISth  of  March;  and  on  the  18th  of 
June,  three  months  after,  she,  I  trust,  received  the 
crown. 

''  I  have  been  at  this  place  lor  some  weeks  past, 
in  the  hope  of  acquiring  a  little  strength  after  my 
late  illness.  I  am  now  perfectly  well,  and  propose 
to  return  to  C^llcutta  to  resume  my  public  duties 
in  a  few  days. 

"  During  the  period  of  my  retirement  I  have 
been  chiefly  employed  in  researches  in  the  He- 
brew and  Syriac  Scriptures.  I  happily  met  with 
some  valuable  Syriac  volumes  on  my  way  up  hi- 
ther. While  I  was  thus  enjrasfed,  the  news  of 
Mrs.  Buchanan's  death  arrived  !  I  found  some  con- 
solation in  writing  a  few  lines  to  her  memory  in 
the  Hebrew,  Syriac,  Greek,  and  Latin  languages  | 
which  I  inscribed  on  a  leaf  of  her  own  Bible  :  the 
best  monument  that  I  could  erect ;  for  her  boriy 
was  buiied  in  the  deep. 


252  MEMOIR   OF   DR.    BUCHAIVAN^ 

"  I  sometimes  think  that,  had  I  my  two  little 
girls  to  play  with,  I  should  be  happy,  even  in  this 
<lreary  land.  My  chief  solace  is  in  a  mind  con- 
stantly occupied  ;  and  this  is  the  greatest  temporal 
blessing  I  can  expect,  even  unto  the  end.  I  could 
relate  to  you  scenes  of  tribulation  and  keen  perse- 
cution in  regard  to  others  and  to  myself:  but  these 
could  give  you  no  pleasure,  and  I  wish  not  to  think 
of  them. 

"  Hov/  little  do  you  all  knov/  of  Calcutta,  or  of 
ivhat  is  doing  or  has  been  done  here  ;  as  little  eveo 
as  of  the  court  of  Pekin  ! 

"  Of  the  many  letters  you  wrote  to  us  during  the 
tv/o  last  years  I  think  we  received  only  two.  My 
next  to  you,  if  I  live  to  write  another,  will  proba- 
bly be  from  Tajrrohane. 

**  I  remain^  my  dear  sir,  very  affectionately  yours> 

"  C.  Buchanan." 

The  disapprobation  with  which  the  extensive 
nature  of  the  college  of  Fort  William  had  beett 
viewed  by  the  Court  of  Directors,  had  long  prepar- 
ed its  superintendents  to  expect  a  reduction  of  it3 
establishment.  Anticipating,  therefore,  the  suspen- 
sion of  that  department  in  it  which  had  hitherto- 
been  instrumental  in  promoting  translations  of  the 
Scriptures  into  the  oriental  languages,  they  were 
anxious  to  make  some  provision  for  the  continua- 
tion af  these  important  works.    With  this  view. 


AT    CALCUTTA.  253 

they  resolved  to  encourage  individuals  to  proceed 
with  versions  of  the  Scriptures  by  such  means  as 
they  could  command  ;  purposing,  at  the  same  time, 
jiot  to  confine  this  encouragement  to  Bengal,  but 
to  extend  it  to  every  part  of  the  East  where  fit  in- 
strumenls  could  be  found.  Mr.  Buchanan  particu- 
larly determined  to  devote  his  influence,  as  vice- 
provost  of  the  college,  in  aid  of  the  translations 
then  in  the  hands  of  the  missionaries  at  Seram- 
pore,  and  to  endeavor  to  excite  the  public  interest 
ill  their  favor.  For  this  purpose,  jcarly  in  the  year 
1S06,  he  drew  up  "  proposals  for  a  subscription  for 
translating  the  Holy  Scriptures  "  into  fifteen  ori- 
ental languages  ;  containing  a  prospectus  of  Indian 
versions,  and  observations  on  the  practicability  of 
the  general  design.  To  these  proposals,  composed 
chiefly  from  materials  furnished  by  the  missiona- 
ries, their  names  were  subscribed ;  and  in  the 
month  of  March  copies  were  distributed  liberally  in 
India  and  in  England ;  in  this  country  to  the  Court 
of  Directors,  to  the  bench  of  Bishops,  to  the  univer- 
sities, to  Lord  Teignmouth,  as  President  of  the 
British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  and  to  some 
other  public  bodies,  as  well  as  to  many  private  gen- 
tlemen. In  India,  copies  were  transmitted  to  nearly 
the  whole  of  the  principal  civil  and  to  many  of  the 
military  officers  in  the  Company's  service,  from 
Delhi  to  Travancore  j  to  many  of  whom  the  mis- 
sion at  Serampore  was  previously  unknown.    Mr. 

BucbaiiRD.  '-'^ 


254  MEMOIR    OF    DR.    BUCHANAN. 

Buchanan  obtained  permission  at  the  same  time 
to  send  the  proposals,  in  his  official  character  as 
vice-provost  of  the  college,  free  of  expense,  to  all 
parts  of  the  empire  ;  and  he  accompanied  them  in 
most  instances  with  letters,  which  amounted  to 
about  one  hundred,  from  himself 

It  was  plainly  implied  in  the  proposals,  that  the 
undertaking  would  enjoy  the  countenance  and  sup- 
port of  the  college  ;  and  it  was  doubtless  on  this 
ground  that  the  concuirence  of  the  public  was 
principally  obtained.  That  expectation  was  accord- 
ingly expressed  in  the  following  terms  : 

"  Our  hope  of  success  in  this  great  undertaking 
depends  chiefly  on  the  patronage  of  the  college  of 
Fort  William.  To  that  institution  we  are  much  in- 
debted for  the  progress  we  have  already  made. 
Oriental  translation  has  become  comparatively 
easy,  in  consequence  of  our  having  the  aid  of  those 
learned  men  from  distant  provinces  in  Asia,  who 
have  assembled,  daring  the  period  of  the  last  six 
years,  at  that  great  emporium  of  eastern  letters. 
These  intdiigent  strangers  voluntarily  engage  with 
us  in  translating  the  Scriptures  into  their  respective 
languages;  and  they  do  not  conceal  their  admira- 
tion of  the  sublime  doctrine,  pure  precept,  and  di- 
vine eloquence  of  the  word  of  God.  The  plan  of 
these  translations  was  sanctioned  at  an  early  pe- 
1  iod  by  the  most  noble  the  Marquis  Wellesley,  the 


AT    CALCUTTA.  <,bi) 

great  patron  of  useful  learning.  To  give  the  chris- 
tian Scriptures  to  the  inhabitants  of  Asia  is  indeed 
a  work  which  every  man  who  believes  these  Scrip- 
tures-to  be  from  God  will  approve.  In  Hindoslan 
alone  there  is  a  great  variety  of  religions  ;  and 
there  are  some  tribes  which  have  no  certain  cast  or 
religion  at  all.  To  render  the  revealed  religion  ac- 
cessible to  men  who  *  desire  '  it,  to  open  its  eternal 
sanctions  and  display  its  pure  morals  to  those  who 
'  seek  a  religion,'  is  to  fulfil  the  sacred  duty  of  a 
christian  people,  and  accords  well  with  the  humane 
and  generous  spirit  of  the  English  nation." 

Another  passage  of  the  document  from  which 
the  preceding  extract  is  taken,  announced,  in  India 
the  formation  and  the  proffered  friendship  of  the 
British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  as  furnishing 
material  encouragement  to  the  proposed  undertak- 
ing. Thus  accredited  and  patronized,  the  address 
from  the  missionaries  at  Serampore  was  advertised 
in  the  government  gazettes,  and  published  through- 
out India ;  and  such  was  the  approbation  with  which 
it  was  received  that  in  a  short  time  the  sum  of  six- 
teen hundred  pounds  was  subscribed  in  aid  of  the 
intended  translations. 

The  communication  of  the  proposals  in  question 
to  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  was  made 
by  Mr.  Buchanan  in  the  month  of  March.  He  at 
the  same  time  recommended  that  a  sermon  should 


256  MEMOIR    OF    DR.    BUCHANAN. 

be  preached  before  the  Society,  '*  on  the  subject  of 
oriental  translations;"  antl  with  the  zeal  and  libe- 
rality which  had  now  so  frequently  marked  all  his 
proceedings,  requested  ''  that  the  reverend  preach- 
er would  do  him  the  honor  to  accept  the  sum  of 
fifty  pounds  on  delivery  of  a  printed  copy  of  the 
sermon  to  his  agents  in  London,  for  the  college  of 
Fort  Vv^illiam,  in  Bengal."  This  proposition  was 
at  first  acceded  to  by  the  committee  of  the  Society  ; 
and  the  Rev.  John  Owen,  one  of  its  able  and  inde- 
fatigable secretaries,  was  requested  to  become  the 
preacher.  It  was,  however,  upon  reconsideration, 
unanimously  agreed,  that,  as  the  measure  did  not 
fall  strictly  within  the  professed  object  of  the  So- 
ciety, and  might  open  a  door  to  practical  irregula- 
rities, it  would  not  bo  expedient  to  sanction  its 
adoption.  The  generous  offer  of  Mr.  Buchanan 
was,  in  consequence  of  this  decision,  respectfully 
declined. 

A  similar  proposal  was  transmitted  by  Mr.  Bu- 
chanan to  the  Vice-Chancellors  of  the  universities 
of  Oxford  and  Cambridge,  that  two  sermons  should 
be  preached  before  each  of  those  learned  bodies, 
on  the  translation  of  the  Scriptures  into  the  orien- 
tal languages,  by  such  persons  as  the  universities 
should  appoint ;  accompanied  by  a  request  that 
each  of  the  four  preachers  would  accept  the  sum  of 
thirty  guineas,  on  the  similar  condition  of  the  deli- 
very to  his  agents  of  a  printed  copy  of  the  sermon 


AT    CALCUTTA.  257 

for  the  collejre  of  Fort  Vv'illiam.    These  adJitional 

o 

offers  to  the  universities  were  in  each  case  accepted. 
In  the  course  of  the  preceding  year  Mr.  Buchan- 
an received  from  the  university  of  Glasgow,  of 
which  he  had  been  formerly  a  member,  a  diploma 
conferring  upon  him  the  degree  of  Doctor  in  Di- 
vinity, and  afterwards  received  a  similar  honor  from 
the  university  at  Cambridge. 


CHAPTER  VII. 


Tattr  on  Vie  JVialabar  Coaet — JTuggeniaut — JPemale 
Sacrifice. 

Dr.  Buchanan  was  now  again  looking  forward 
to  his  long  projected  journey  to  the  south  of  the 
peninsula.  On  the  12th  of  March,  1806,  he  thus 
WTOte  to  a  friend  in  England  : 

"  I  proceed  to  Malabar  in  a  few  weeks.  My 
delay  has  been  chiefly  occasioned  by  the  difficulty 
of  my  resigning  appointments  and  offices  here, 
where  there  is  no  one  to  receive  them.  And  even 
now,  if  I  get  off  fairly,  I  shall  wonder. 
22* 


9.5S  MEMOIR    OP    DR.    EUCUANAN. 

"  I  Still  continue  in  my  purpose  of  going  home 
about  the  end  of  this  year.  So  that  I  shall  possi- 
bly see  you  and  your  family  once  more." 

On  the  22d  of  March  Dr.  Buchanan  obtained 
leave  of  absence  from  the  government  for  six 
months,  together  with  renewed  assurances  of  the 
countenance  and  assistance  formerly  promised  ;  but 
his  preparations  for  his  journey  were  again  inter- 
rupted by  a  return  of  ague  and  fever.  This  attack 
was,  however,  less  serious  and  of  shorter  duration 
than  the  former;  so  that  at  the  end  of  the  month 
he  was  able  to  wait  upon  the  Governor  General, 
who  kindly  oiTered  to  accommodate  him  with  one 
of  his  tents  for  his  intended  journey  to  the  coast. 
During  the  month  of  April  Dr.  Buchanan  conti- 
nued his  preparations  for  his  approaching  absence  ; 
attended  an  examination  of  the  Chinese  class  at 
Serampore,  and  made  arrangements  for  the  per- 
formance of  his  clerical  duties.  His  last  sermon, 
previously  to  his  departure,  was  from  the  beautiful 
address  in  the  Revelation  of  St.  John  (chap.  3 :  7- 
13)  to  the  church  at  Philadelphia,  which  he  pro- 
bably considered  as  in  some  respects  appropriate  to 
that  at  Calcutta.  Dr.  Buchanan  spent  several  of 
the  days  immediately  preceding  his  journey  with 
Mr.  Udny,  who  appears  to  have  entered  with 
much  interest  into  his  views  for  the  promotion  of 
Christianity  in  India.     The  late  learned   and  la- 


CHRISTIAN    RESEARCHES.  259 

mented  Dr.  Leyden  had  at  one  time  propo.^ed  to 
accompany  Dr.  Buchanan  in  his  tour;  but  this 
plan,  though  it  would  doubtless  have  proved  mu- 
tually agreeable  and  beneficial,  was  finally  aban- 
doned. 

The  design  of  this  extensive  and  laborious  jour- 
ney cannot  be  better  explained  than  in  the  words 
of  Dr.  Buchanan,  in  his  "  Christian  Researches  in 
Asia :" 

"  In  order  to  obtain  a  distinct  view  of  the  state 
of  Christianity  and  of  superstition  in  Asia,"  he  says, 
"  the  superintendents  of  the  college  had,  before 
this  period,  entered  into  correspondence  with  in- 
telligent persons  in  different  countries,  and  from 
every  quarter  (even  from  the  confines  of  China) 
they  received  encouragement  to  proceed.  But,  as 
contradictory  accounts  were  given  by  different  wri- 
ters concernino'  the  real  state  of  the  numerous  tribes 

o 

in  India,  both  of  christians  and  natives,  the  author 
conceived  the  design  of  devoting  the  last  year  or 
two  of  his  residence  in  the  East  to  purposes  of  lo- 
cal examination  and  inquiry. 

"  The  principal  objects  of  this  tour  were  to  in- 
vestigate the  state  of  superstition  at  the  most  cele- 
brated temples  of  the  Hindoos ;  to  examine  the 
churches  and  libraries  of  the  Romish,  Syrian,  and 
Protestant  christians ;  to  ascertain  the  present 
state  and  recent  history  of  the  eastern  Jews  ;  and 


260  MEMOIR    OF    DR,    3UCHANAN. 

to  discover  what  persons  might  be  fit  instruments 
for  the  promotion  of  learning  in  their  respective 
countries,  and  for  maintaining  a  future  correspon- 
dence on  the  subject  of  disseminating  the  Scrip- 
tures in  India." 

Such  were  the  important  views  with  which  Dt. 
Buchanan  entered  upon  his  intended  journey.  It 
is  no  disparagement  to  travels  undertaken  from 
motives  either  of  personal  curiosity  or  of  public 
utility,  to  assert  that  the  tour  which  Dr.  Buchanan 
was  meditating,  derived,  from  its  disinterested  and 
sacred  objects,  a  peculiar  degree  of  dignity  and 
value.  If  our  great  philanthropist,  Howard,  was 
justly  eulogized  by  a  late  celebrated  statesman  for 
his  indefatigable  and  self-denying  exertions  in  "  tra- 
velling over  land  and  sea,"  not  to  gratify  his  taste 
or  to  extend  his  fame,  but  "  to  remember  the  for- 
gotten, to  attend  the  neglected,  and  to  visit  the 
forsaken,"  it  is  not  too  much  to  say,  that  although 
the  labors  of  that  eminent  person  were  more  vari- 
ous and  continued,  it  required,  in  a  man  of  infirm 
and  precarious  health,  like  Dr.  Buchanan,  a  degree 
of  zeal  and  resolution  to  enter  upon  his  projected 
journey  which  reflects  upon  him  the  highest  honor. 
And  although  in  each  case  the  love  of  God  and  of 
man  was  the  prevailing  motive,  the  object  of  the 
one  was,  in  proportion  to  its  extent,  as  much  more 
important  than  the  other,  as  inquiries  into  spiritual 


CHRISTIAN    RESEARCUEa.  261 

wants  with  a  view  to  their  relief  are  more  weighty 
than  those  which  concern  temporal  necessities,  and 
as  interests  of  eternal  duration  are  more  momen- 
tous than  any  which  are  bounded  by  the  narrow 
limits  of  time.  It  must  be  remembered,  too,  that, 
with  the  exception  of  the  accommodations  afforded 
him  by  the  kindness  of  the  Governor  General,  and 
the  hospitality  of  the  British  residing  at  the  different 
stations  through  which  he  passed.  Dr.  Buchanan's 
extensive  tour  was  undertaken  exclusively  at  his 
own  expense. 

On  the  3d  of  May  Dr.  Buchanan  left  Calcutta  on 
his  way  to  the  south  ;  and  on  his  arrival  the  same 
day  at  Fulta,  forty  miles  below  that  city,  he  wrote 
to  Colonel  Sandys  as  follows  : 

"  My  dear  Sandys, — I  am  thus  far  on  my  jour- 
ney to  Malabar,  I  propose  to  visit  Juggernaut  first, 
and  hope  to  be  there  early  in  June,  when  the  grand 
festival  of  the  K.utt  Jattra  takes  place.  Sir  Georgo 
Barlow  has  been  so  good  as  to  lend  me  some  of  the 
Governor  General's  small  tents,  so  that  I  shall  tra- 
vel very  comfortably.  My  inquiries,  you  know, 
have  a  threefold  aspect,  Hindoos,  Jews,  and  Chris- 
tians. The  bands  of  infidelity  and  superstition  are 
loosening  fast,  and  Calcutta  is  by  no  means  the 
place  it  was  when  you  were  here. 

"  I  have  heard  this  morning  that  the  flpet  from' 
England,  which  went  to  the  Cspe,  is  expected  at 


262  MEMOIR    OF    DR.    EUCHANAN. 

Madras  every  day,  as  one  of  the  ships  is  already 
arrived.  In  this  fleet  your  friend  Mr.  Martyn  is 
passenger.  Mr.  Jeffries  has  been  appointed  to  act 
as  my  substitute  In  the  new  church  in  ray  absence, 
which  will  be  about  six  or  eight  months,  if,  indeed, 
I  should  ever  return  ;  for  my  route  is  full  of  danger 
and  difficulty  to  one  infirm  as  I  am.  With  some 
view,  I  trust,  to  the  glory  of  God,  I  have  purposed  ; 
but  it  is  He  who  must  dispose  of  me  and  my  ob- 
jects as  shall  seem  to  him  best. 

"  I  remain,  my  dear  Sandys,  very  affectionately 
yours, 

"  C.  Buchanan." 

Dr.  Buchanan,  from  the  time  of  his  arrival  at 
Juggernaut,  kept  a  regular  journal  of  his  tour,  from 
which  we  now  extract  the  narrative  of  his  visit  to 
the  temple  of  that  prince  of  idols  as  given  by  him- 
self in  his  "  Christian  Researches." 

"  BuDDnucK  in  Oriasa,  May  30, 1806. 
"We  know  that  we  are  approaching  Jugger- 
naut (and  yet  we  are  more  than  fifty  miles  from 
it)  by  the  human  bones  which  we  have  seen  for 
some  days  strewed  by  the  way.  At  this  place  we 
have  been  joined  by  several  large  bodies  of  pil- 
grims, perhaps  two  thousand  in  number,  who  have 
come  from  various  parts  of  northern  India.  Some 
of  them,  w^ith  whom  I  have  conversed,  say  that 


cnnrsTiAx  researches.  263 

tliey  have  been  two  months  on  their  march,  travel- 
ling slowly,  in  the  hottest  season  of  the  year,  with 
their  wives  and  children.  Some  old  persons  are 
among  them  who  wish  to  die  at  Juggernaut.  Num- 
bers of  pilgrims  die  on  the  road,  and  their  bodie.4 
generally  remain  unburied.  On  a  plain  by  the  river, 
near  the  pilgrims'  caravansera  at  this  place,  there 
are  more  than  a  hundred  skulls.  The  dogs,  jackals, 
and  vultures  seem  to  live  here  on  human  prey. 
The  vultures  exhibit  a  shocking  tamencss.  The  ()b- 
spene  animals  will  not  leave  the  body  sometimes 
till  we  come  close  to  them.  This  Buddruck  is  a 
horrid  place.  Wherever  I  turn  my  eyes  I  meet 
death  in  some  shape  or  other.  Surely  Juggernaut 
cannot  be  worse  than  Buddruck." 

"  In  sight  of  Juggernaut,  June  12. 
" Many  thousands  of  pilgrims  have  accom- 
panied us  for  some  days  past.  They  cover  the  road, 
before  and  behind,  as  far  as  the  eye  can  reach.  At 
nine  o'clock  this  morning  the  tem.ple  of  Jugger- 
naut appeared  in  view  at  a  great  distance.  When 
the  multitude  iirst  saw  it  they  gave  a  shout,  and  fell 
to  the  ground  and  worshipped.  I  have  heard  no- 
thing to-day  but  shouts  and  acclamations  by  the 
Huccessive  bodies  of  pilgrims.  From  the  place 
where  I  nov/  stand  T  have  a  view  of  a  host  of  peo- 
ple hke  an  army  encamped  at  the  outer  gate  of 
the  town  of  Juggernaut,  where  a  guard  of  soldiers 


204  MEMOIR   OF   DR.    BUCHANAN. 

is  posted  to  prevent  their  entering  the  town  until 
they  have  paid  the  pilgrim's  tax.  I  passed  a  devo- 
tee to-day  who  laid  himself  down  at  every  step, 
measuring  the  road  to  Juggernaut  by  the  length  of 
his  body,  as  a  penance  of  merit  to  please  the  gods." 

"  Oater  Gate  of  Juqgeknaut,  June  12. 
" A  disaster  has  just  occurred.    As  I  ap- 


proached the  gate  the  pilgrims  crowded  from  all 
quarters  around  me,  and  shouted,  as  they  usually 
did  when  I  passed  them  on  the  road,  an  expression 
of  welcome  and  respect.  I  was  a  little  alarmed  at 
their  number,  and  looked  round  for  my  guard.  A 
guard  of  soldiers  had  accompanied  me  from  Cut- 
tack,  the  last  military  station,  but  they  were  now 
about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  behind  with  my  servants 
and  the  baggage.  The  pilgrims  cried  out  that  they 
were  entitled  to  some  indulgence;  that  they  were 
poor,  they  could  not  pay  the  tax ;  but  I  was  not 
aware  of  their  design.  At  this  moment,  when  I 
was  within  a  few  yards  of  the  gate,  an  old  Sanyas- 
see,  (or  holy  man,)  who  had  travelled  some  days  by 
the  side  of  my  horse,  came  up  and  said,  '  Sir,  you 
are  in  danger ;  the  people  are  going  to  rush  through 
the  gate  when  it  is  opened  for  you.'  I  immediately 
dismounted,  and  endeavored  to  escape  to  one  side; 
but  it  was  too  late.  The  mob  was  now  in  motion, 
and  with  a  tumultuous  shout  pressed  violently  to- 
wards the  gate.  The  guard  within  seeing  ray  dan- 


CHRISTIAN    RESEARCHES.  205 

ger,  opened  it,  and  the  multitude  rushing  through, 
carried  me  forward  in  a  torrent  a  considerable 
space,  so  that  I  was  literally  borne  into  Jugger- 
naut by  the  Hindoos  themselves.  A  distressing 
scene  followed.  As  the  number  and  strength  of 
the  mob  increased,  the  narrow  way  was  choked  up 
by  the  mass  of  people,  and  I  apprehended  that 
many  of  them  would  have  been  suffocated  or 
bruised  to  death.  My  horse  was  yet  among  them. 
But  suddenly  one  of  the  side-posts  of  the  gate, 
which  was  of  wood,  gave  way  and  fell  to  the 
ground.  And  perhaps  this  circumstance  alone  pre- 
vented the  loss  of  lives.  Notice  of  the  event  was 
immediately  communicated  to  Mr.  Hunter,  the  su- 
perintendent of  the  temple,  who  repaired  to  the 
spot,  and  sent  an  additional  guard  to  the  inner 
gate,  lest  the  people  should  force  that  also;  for 
there  is  an  outer  and  an  inner  gate  to  the  town  of 
Juggernaut ;  but  both  of  them  are  slightly  con- 
structed. Mr.  Hunter  told  me  that  similar  acci- 
dents sometimes  occur,  and  that  many  have  been 
crushed  to  death  by  the  pressure  of  ihe  mob.  He 
added,  that  sometimes  a  body  of  pilgrims,  consist- 
ing chiefly  of  women  and  children  and  old  men, 
triisting  to  the  physical  weight  of  their  mass,  will 
make  what  he  called  a  charge  on  the  armed  guards, 
and  overwhelm  them ;  the  guards  not  being  willing, 
in  such  circumstances,  to  oppose  their  bayonets." 

Buchauou.  '^«^ 


266  MEMOIR    OF    DR.    BUCHANAN. 

"  Juggernaut,  June  14. 

" 1  have  seen  Jusro^ernaut.    The  scene  at 

Buddruck  is  but  the  vestibule  to  Juggernaut.  No 
record  of  ancient  or  modern  history  can  give,  I 
think,  an  adequate  idea  of  this  valley  of  death  ;  it 
may  be  truly  compared  with  the  '  valley  of  Hin- 
nom.'  The  idol  called  Juggernaut  has  been  consi- 
dered as  the  moloch  of  the  present  age  ;  and  be  is 
justly  so  named,  for  the  sacrifices  offered  up  to  him 
by  self-devotement  are  not  less  criminal,  perhaps 
not  less  numerous,  than  those  recorded  of  the  mo- 
loch of  Canaan.  Two  other  idols  accompany  Jug- 
gernaut, namely  Boloram  and  Shubudra,  his  bro- 
ther and  sister ;  for  there  are  three  deities  worship- 
ped here.  They  receive  equal  adoration,  and  sit  on 
thrones  of  nearly  equal  height." 

" This  morning  I  viewed  the  temple  ;  a  stu- 
pendous fabric  and  truly  commensurate  with  the 
extensive  sway  of  *  the  horrid  king.'  As  other  tem- 
ples are  usually  adorned  with  figures  emblematical 
of  their  religion,  so  Juggernaut  has  representations 
(numerous  and  various)  of  that  vice  which  consti- 
tutes the  essence  of  his  worship.  The  walls  and 
gates  are  covered  with  indecent  emblems,  in  mas- 
sive and  durable  sculpture.  I  have  often  visited  the 
sand  plains  by  the  sea,  in  some  places  whitened 
with  the  bones  of  the  pilgrims ;  and  another  place 
a  little  way  out  of  the  town,  called  by  the  English 
the  Golgotha,  where  the  dead  bodies  are  usually 


CHRISTIAN    RESEARCHES.  267 

cast  forth,  and  where  dogs  and  vultures  are  ever 
seen.* 

"  The  grand  Hindoo  festival  of  the  Rutt  Jattra 
takes  place  on  the  ISth  inst.  when  the  idol  is  to  be 
brought  forth  to  the  people.  I  reside  during  my 
stay  here  at  the  house  of  James  Hunter,  Esq.  the 
Company's  collector  of  the  tax  on  pilgrims,  and  su- 
perintendent of  the  temple,  formerly  a  student  in 
the  college  of  Fort  William  ;  by  whom  I  am  hos- 
pitably entertained,  and  also  by  Capt.  Patton  and 
Lieut.  Woodcock,  commanding  the  military  force. 
Mr.  Hunter  distinguished  himself  at  the  college  by 
his  proficiency  in  the  oriental  language.  He  is  a 
gentleman  of  polished  manners  and  of  classical 
taste.  The  agreeable  society  of  these  gentlemen  is 
very  refreshing  to  my  spirits  in  the  midst  of  the 
present  scenes.  I  was  surprised  to  see  how  little 
they  seemed  to  be  moved  by  the  scenes  of  Jugger- 

*  The  vultures  generally  find  oat  the  prey  first,  and  begin 
with  the  intestines  ;  for  the  flesh  of  the  body  is  too  firm  for 
their  beaks  immediately  after  death.  But  the  dogs  soon  re- 
ceive notice  of  the  circumstance,  generally  from  seeing  the 
Hurries  or  corpse- carriers  returning  from  the  place.  On  the 
approach  of  the  dogs  the  vultures  retire  a  few  yards  and 
wait  till  the  body  be  sutficiently  torn  for  easy  deglutition. 
The  vultures  and  dogs  often  feed  together,  and  sometimes 
begin  their  attack  before  the  pilgrim  be  quite  dead.  There 
are  four  animals  which  are  sometimes  seen  about  a  carcass, 
the  dog,  the  jackal,  the  vulture,  and  the  hurgeela,  or  adju- 
tant, called  by  Pennant  the  gigantic  crane. 


26S  MEMOIR    OF    DR.    U'JCIIANAN, 

naut.  They  said  they  were  now  so  accustomed  to 
them  they  thought  little  of  them.  They  had  almost 
forgot  their  first  impressions.  Their  houses  are  on 
the  sea-shore  about  a  mile  or  more  from  the  tem- 
ple. They  cannot  live  nearer  on  account  of  the  of- 
fensive effluvia  of  the  town.  For,  independently  ot 
the  enormity  of  the  superstition,  there  are  other 
circumstances  which  render  Juggernaut  noisome 
in  an  extreme  degree.  The  senses  are  assailed  by 
the  squalid  and  ghastly  appearance  of  the  famish- 
ed pilgrims,  many  of  whom  die  in  the  streets  of 
want  or  of  disease  ;  while  the  devotees  with  clot- 
ted hair  and  painted  flesh  are  seen  practising  their 
various  austerities  and  modes  of  self-torture.  Per- 
sons of  both  sexes,  with  little  regard  to  conceal* 
ment,  sit  down  on  the  sands  close  to  the  town  in 
public  view,  and  the  sacked  bulls  walk  about 
among  them  and  eat  the  ordure^ 

"  The  vicinity  of  Juggernaut  to  the  sea  probably 
prevents  the  contagion  which  otherv/ise  would  be 
produced  by  the  putrefactions  of  the  place.  There 
is  scarcely  any  verdure  to  refresh  the  sight  near 
Juggernaut ;  the  temple  and  town  being  nearly  en- 
compassed by  hills  oi  sandy  which  has  been  cast  up 
in  the  lapse  of  ages  by  the  surge  of  the  ocean.  All 

♦  This  singular  fact  was  pointed  out  to  me  by  the  gentle- 
men here.  There  is  no  vegetation  for  the  sacred  bulls  on  the 
fciand  plains,  'i'bey  are  {^fS.  generally  with  vegetal^Ies  from 
the  hands  of  the  pilgrims. 


CHRISTIAN    RESEARCHES.  269 

13  barren  and  desolate  to  the  eye ;  and  in  the  ear 
there  13  the  never-intermitting  sound  of  the  roar- 
ing sea." 

"  JuaoERNAUT,  June  18. 

"  I  have  returned  home  from  witnessing  a 

scene  which  I  shall  never  forget.  At  twelve  o'clock 
of  this  day,  being  the  great  day  of  the  feast,  the 
moloch  of  Hindostan  was  brought  out  of  his  tem- 
ple amidst  the  acclamations  of  hundreds  of  thou- 
sands of  his  worshippers.  When  the  idol  was  placed 
on  his  throne  a  shout  was  raised  by  the  multitude, 
such  as  I  had  never  heard  before.  It  continued 
equable  for  a  few  minutes,  and  then  gradually  died 
away.  After  a  shoit  interval  of  silence  a  murmur 
was  heard  at  a  distance  ;  all  eyes  were  turned  to- 
wards the  place,  and,  behold,  a  grove  advancing  ! 
A  body  of  men,  having  green  branches  or  palms 
in  their  hands,  approached  with  great  celerity.  The 
people  opened  a  way  for  them  ;  and  when  they  had 
come  up  to  the  throne  they  fell  down  before  him 
that  sat  thereon  and  worshipped.  And  the  multi- 
tude again  sent  forth  a  voice  'like  the  sound  of  a 
great  thunder.'  But  the  voices  I  now  heard  were 
not  those  of  melody  or  of  joyful  acclamation ;  for 
there  is  no  harmony  in  the  praise  of  moloch's  wor- 
shippers. Their  number  indeed  brought  to  my  mind 
the  countless  multitude  of  the  Revelations  ;  but 
their  voices  ?ave  no  tuneful  hosannah  or  halleluiah  ; 


270  MEMOIR    OF    DR.    BUCHANAN. 

but  rather  a  yell  of  approbation,  united  with  a  kind 
of  hissing  ap;)lause.*  I  was  at  a  loss  how  to  ac- 
count for  this  latter  noise,  until  I  was  directed  to 
notice  the  women,  who  emitted  a  sound  like  that 
of  whistlings  with  the  lips  circular  and  the  tongue 
vibrating  :  as  if  a  serpent  would  speak  by  their  or- 
gans, uttering  human  sounds. 

"  The  throne  of  the  idol  was  placed  on  a  stupen- 
dous car  or  tower  about  sixty  feet  in  height,  rest- 
ing on  wheels  w4iich  indented  the  ground  deeply, 
as  they  turned  slowly  under  the  ponderous  ma- 
chine. Attached  to  it  were  six  cables,  of  the  size 
and  length  of  a  ship's  cable,  by  which  the  people 
drew  it  along.  Upon  the  tower  were  the  priests 
and  satellites  of  the  idol  surrounding?  his  throne. 
The  idol  is  a  block  of  wood,  having  a  frightful 
visage  painted  black,  with  a  distended  mouth  of  a 
bloody  color.  His  arms  are  of  gold,  and  he  is 
dressed  in  gorgeous  apparel.  The  other  two  idols 
are  of  a  white  and  yellow  color.  Five  elephants 
preceded  the  three  towers,  bearing  towering  Hags, 
dressed  in  crimson  caparisons,  and  having  bells 
hanging  to  their  caparisons,  which  sounded  musi- 
cally as  they  moved. 

"  I  went  on  in  the  procession  close  by  the  tower 
of  moloch,  which,  as  it  was  drawn  with  difficulty, 
'grated  on  its  many  wheels  harsh  thunder.'!    After 

*  See  Milton's  Pandemonium,  book  x. 

t  Two  of  the  military  genthmen  had  mounted  my  ele- 


CHRISTIAN    RESEARCHES.  271 

a  few  minutes  it  stopped  ;  and  now  the  worsliip  of 
the  god  began.  A  high  priest  mounted  the  car  in 
front  of  the  idol,  and  pronounced  liis  obscene  stan- 
zas in  the  ears  of  the  people  ;  who  responded  at  in- 
tervals in  the  same  strain.  '  These  songs,'  said  he, 
'  are  the  delight  of  the  god.  His  car  can  only- 
move  when  he  is  pleased  with  the  song.'  The  car 
moved  on  a  little  way  and  then  stopped.  A  boy  of 
about  twelve  years  was  then  brought  forth  to  at- 
tempt something  yet  more  lascivious,  if  peradven- 
ture  the  god  would  move.  The  '  child  perfected 
the  praise  '  of  his  idol  with  such  ardent  expression 
and  gesture,  that  the  god  was  pleased,  and  the 
multitude,  emitting  a  sensual  yell  of  delight,  urged 
the  car  along.  After  a  few  minutes  it  stopped 
again.     An  aged  minister  of  the  idol  then  stood 

pliant  that  they  might  witness  the  spectacle,  and  had  brought 
him  close  to  the  tower ;  but  the  moment  it  began  to  move, 
the  animal,  alarmed  at  (he  unusual  noise,  took  fright  and 
ran  off  through  the  crowd  till  he  was  stopped  by  a  wall. 
The  natural  fear  of  the  elephant  lest  he  should  injure  hu- 
man life  was  remarkably  exemplified  on  this  occasion. 
Though  the  crowd  was  very  closely  set,  he  endeavored  in 
the  midst  of  his  own  terror  to  throw  the  people  off  on  both 
sides  with  his  feet,  and  it  was  found  that  he  had  only  trod 
upon  one  person.  It  was  with  great  concern  I  afterwards 
learnt  that  this  was  a  poor  woman,  and  that  the  fleshy  part 
of  her  leg  had  been  torn  off.  There  being  no  medical  per- 
son here,  Lieut.  Woodcock  Vv'ith  great  humanity  endeavored 
to  dress  the  wound,  and  attended  her  daily;  and  Mr.  Hun- 
ter ordered  her  to  be  supplied  with  every  thing  that  might 
conduce  to  her  recovery. 


272  MEMOia    OF    D3..    BUCHANAN. 

up,  and  with  a  long  rod  in  his  hand,  which  he  mov- 
ed with  indecent  action,  completed  the  variety  of 
this  disgusting  exhibition.  I  felt  a  consciousness 
of  doing  wrong  in  witnessing  it.  I  was  also  some- 
what appalled  at  the  magnitude  and  horror  of  the 
spectacle ;  I  felt  like  a  guilty  person  on  whom  all 
eyes  were  fixed,  and  I  was  about  to  withdraw. 
But  a  scene  of  a  different  kind  was  now  to  be  pre- 
sented. The  characteristics  of  moloch's  worship 
are  obscenity  and  blood.  We  have  seen  the  former ; 
now  comes  the  blood. 

•'  After  the  tower  had  proceeded  some  way,  a 
pilgrim  announced  that  he  was  ready  to  offer  him- 
self a  sacrifice  to  the  idol.  He  laid  himself  down 
in  the  road  before  the  tower  as  it  was  moving 
along,  lying  on  his  face,  with  his  arms  stretched 
forwards.  The  multitude  passed  round  him,  leav- 
ing the  space  clear,  and  he  was  crushed  to  death 
by  the  wheels  of  the  tower.  A  shout  of  joy  was 
raised  to  the  god.  He  ia  said  to  s7nile  when  the 
libation  of  the  blood  is  made.  The  people  threw 
cowries,  or  small  money,  on  the  body  of  the  vic- 
tim, in  approbation  of  the  deed.  He  was  left  to 
view  a  considerable  time,  and  then  carried  by  the 
Hurries  to  the  Golgotha,  where  I  have  just  been 
viewing  his  remains.  How  much  I  wished  that  the 
proprietors  of  India  stock  could  have  attended  the 
wheels  of  Juggernaut  and^een  this  peculiar  source 
of  their  revenue." 


CHRISTIAN    RESEARCHES.  273 

"  JooGERNiUT,  June  20, 

♦'  Moloch,  horrid  king,  besmeared  with  blood 
*'  Of' human  isacrifice,  and  parents'  tears," 

Milton. 

The  lionid  solemnities  still  continue.  Yes- 


terday a  woman  devoted  herself  to  the  idol.  She  laid 
herself  down  on  the  road  in  an  oblique  direction, 
so  that  the  wheel  did  not  kill  her  instantaneously, 
as  is  generally  the  case,  but  she  died  in  a  few 
hours.  This  morning  as  I  passed  the  place  of  skulls 
nothing  remained  of  her  but  her  bones. 

"  And  this,  thought  I,  is  the  worship  of  the  Brah- 
mins of  Hindostan  !  And  their  worship  in  its 
sublimest  degree  !  What  then  shall  we  think  of 
their  private  manners  and  their  moral  principles  ! 
For  it  is  equally  true  of  India  as  of  Europe.  If  you 
would  know  the  state  of  the  people,  look  at  the 
state  of  the  temple. 

"  I  was  surprised  to  see  the  Brahmins,  with  their 
heads  uncovered  in  the  open  plain,  falling  down  in 
the  midst  of  the  Sooders  before  '  the  horrid  shape,* 
and  mingling  so  complacently  with  '  that  polluted 
cast.'  But  this  proved  what  I  had  before  heard, 
that  so  great  a  god  is  this  that  the  dignity  of  high 
cast  disappears  before  him.  This  great  king  recog- 
nizes no  distinction  of  rank  among  his  subjects. 
All  men  are  equal  in  his  presence." 


274  aiExMom  of  dr.  buchanan. 

"  JcoGERNAUT,  June  21: 
"  The  idolatrous  processions  continue  for  some 
days  longer,  but  my  spirits  are  so  exhausted  by  the 
constant  view  of  these  enormities,  that  I  mean  to 
hasten  away  from  this  place  sooner  than  I  at  first 
intended.  I  beheld  another  distressing  scene  this 
morning  at  the  place  of  skulls  ;  a  poor  woman  ly- 
ing dead,  or  nearly  dead,  and  her  two  children  by 
her  looking  at  the  dogs  and  vultures  which  were 
near.  The  people  passed  by  without  noticing  the 
children.  I  asked  them  where  was  their  home. 
They  said  '  they  had  no  home  but  where  their  mo- 
ther was.'  O,  there  is  no  pity  at  Juggernaut !  no 
mercy,  no  tenderness  of  heart  in  moloch's  king- 
dom !  Those  who  support  his  kingdom  err,  I  trust, 
from  ignorance.  '  They  know  not  what  they  do.' 

'*  As  to  the  number  of  worshippers  assembled 
here  at  this  time  no  accurate  calculation  can  be 
made.  The  natives  themselves,  when  speaking  of 
numbers  at  particular  festivals,  usually  say  that  a 
lack  of  people  (100,000)  would  not  be  missed.  I 
asked  a  Brahmin  how  many  he  supposed  were  pre- 
sent at  the  most  numerous  festival  he  had  ever  wit- 
nessed. *  How  can  I  tell,*  said  he,  *  how  many 
grains  there  are  in  a  handful  of  sand  ]' 

"  The  languages  spoken  here  are  various,  as 
there  are  Hindoos  from  every  country  in  India,  but 
the  two  chief  languages  in  use  by  those  who  are 
resident  are  the  Orissa  and  the  Telinga.    The  bor- 


CHRISTIAN    RESEARCHES.  275 

der  of  the  Telinga  country  is  only  a  few  miles  dis 
tant  from  the  tower  of  Juggernaut." 

"  Chilka  Lake,  June  24, 

" I  felt  my  mind  relieved  and  happy  when 

I  had  passed  beyond  the  confines  of  Juggernaut.  1 
certainly  was  not  prepared  for  the  scene.  But  no 
one  can  know  what  it  is  who  has  not  seen  it.  From 
an  eminence  on  the  pleasant  banks  of  the  Chilka 
Lake  (where  no  human  bones  are  seen)  I  had  a 
view  of  the  lofty  tower  of  Juggernaut  far  remote  ; 
and  while  I  viewed  it,  its  abominations  came  to 
mind.  It  was  on  the  morning  of  the  Sabbath.  Ru- 
minating long  on  the  wide  and  extended  empire 
of  moloch  in  the  heathen  world,  I  cherished  in  my 
thoughts  the  design  of  some  christian  institution, 
which,  being  fostered  by  Britain,  my  christian  coun- 
try, might  gradually  undermine  this  baleful  idola- 
try, and  put  out  the  memory  of  it  for  ever."* 

"  Before  proceeding  to  show  the  happy  effects 
of  Christianity  in  those  provinces  of  India  where  it 

♦  The  annual  expenses  of  the  idol  Juggernaut,  prese^ntcd 
tc  the  English  governmc7it,  are,  by  the  cfRcial  accounts, 
69,61G  rupees,  or  8,702  pounds  sterling;  including  36,115 
rupees  for  expense  of  the  table  of  the  idol,  and  10,057  for 
wages  of  his  servants,  among  whom  are  the  courtezans 
kept  for  the  service  of  the  temple.  Mr.  Hunter  informed 
me  that  the  three  "  state  carriages"  were  decorated  this 
year  (in  June,  1806)  with  upwards  of  200  pounds  sterling 
worth  of  Ensrlish  broadcloth  and  baize. 


276  MEMOIR    OF    DR.    BUCHANAN. 

has  been  introduced,  it  may  be  proper,"  says  Dr. 
Buchanan  in  his  narrative,  "  to  notice  in  this  place 
that  other  sanguinary  rite  of  the  Hindoo  supersti- 
tion, the  Female  Sacrijice.'' 

He  proceeds  to  present  in  detail  a  statement  of 
"  the  number  of  women  burned  alive  on  the  fune- 
ral pile  of  their  husbands  within  thirty  miles  round 
Calcutta  in  six  months,  from  "  April  15  to  October 
15,  1S04,"  the  total  of  which  is  "  one  liuiidred  imd 
fficen.  The  following  account,"  he  adds,  "  will 
give  the  reader  some  idea  of  the  flagitious  circum- 
stances which  sometimes  attend  these  sacrifices  : 

"  Calcutta,  September  30, 1807. 

"  A  horrid  tragedy  was  acted  on  the  12th  instant, 
near  Barnagore  (a  place  about  three  miles  above 
Calcutta.)  A  Koolin  Brahmin,  of  Cammar-hattie, 
by  name  Kristo  Deb  Mookerjee,  died  at  the  ad- 
vanced age  of  ninety-two.  He  had  twelve  wives* 
and  three  of  them  were  burned  alive  with  his  dead 
body.  Of  these  three,  one  was  a  venerable  lady, 
having  white  locks,  who  had  been  long  known  in 
the  neighborhood.  Not  being  able  to  walk,  she 
was  carried  in  a  palanquin  to  the  place  of  burning, 
and  was  then  placed  by  the  Brahmins  on  the  fune- 
ral pile.    The  two  other  ladies  were  younger;  one 

*  The  Koolin  Brahmin  is  Ihe  purest  of  all  Brahmins,  and 
is  privileged  to  marry  as  many  wives  as  he  plea?es. 


rURTSTIAN    RESEARCHES.  277 

cf  tlicm  of  a  very  pleasing  and  interesting  counte- 
nance. The  old  iad y  was  placed  on  one  side  of  the 
dead  husband,  and  the  two  other  wives  laid  them- 
selves down  on  the  other  side  ;  and  then  an  old 
Brahmin,  the  eldest  son  of  the  deceast;d,  ap})lied 
Ilia  torch  to  the  pile  with  unaverted  face  !  The 
})ile  suddenly  blazed,  for  it  was  covered  with  com- 
l)ustibles;  and  this  human  sacrifice  was  completed 
amidst  the  din  of  drums  arid  cymbals,  and  the 
shouts  of  Brahmins.  A  person  present  observed, 
'  Surely  if  Lord  Minto  were  here,  who  is  just  come 
from  England,  and  is  not  used  to  see  women  burn- 
ed alive,  he  would  have  saved  these  three  ladies. 
The  Mohammedan  governors  saved  whom  they 
pleased,  and  suffered  no  deluded  female  to  commit 
suicide  without  previous  investigation  of  the  cir- 
cumstances and  official  permission. 

"  In  a  discussion  which  this  event  has  produced 
in  Calcutta,  the  following  question  has  been  asked, 
Who  was  guilty  of  the  blood  of  the  old  lady  ? 
For  it  was  manifest  that  she  could  not  destroy  her- 
self. She  was  carried  to  be  burned.  It  was  also  al- 
leged that  the  Brahmin  who  fired  the  pile  was  not 
guilty,  because  he  was  never  informed  by  the  Eng- 
lish government  that  there  was  any  immorality  in 
the  action.  On  the  contrary,  he  might  argue  that 
tlie  English  witnessing  this  scene  daily,  as  they  do, 
without  remonstrance,  acquiesced  in  its  propriety. 
The  government  of  India  was  exculpated,  on  the 

Buclianaii.  ~4 


273  MEMOIR   OF    DPw.    BUCHANAN. 

ground  that  the  governmenl  at  home  never  sent 
any  instructions  on  the  subject  ;  and  the  Court  of 
Directors  were  exculpated  because  they  were  the 
agents  of  others.  It  remained  that  the  proprietors 
of  India  stocks,  who  originate  and  sanction  all  pro- 
ceedings of  the  Court  of  Directors,  were  remotely 
accessary  to  the  deed. 

"  The  best  vindication  of  the  great  body  of  pro- 
prietors is  this  :  that  some  of  them  never  heard  of 
the  female  sacrifice  at  all ;  and  that  few  of  them  are 
acquainted  with  the  full  extent  and  frequency  of 
the  crime.  Besides,  in  the  above  discussion  it  was 
taken  for  granted  that  the  Court  of  Directors  had 
done  nothing  towards  the  suppression  of  this  enor- 
mity ;  and  that  the  Court  of  Proprietors  have 
looked  on  without  concern  at  this  omission  of 
duty.  But  this,  perhaps,  may  not  be  the  case.  The 
question  then  remains  to  be  asked,  Have  the  Court 
of  Directors,  at  anytime,  sent  instructions  to  their 
government  in  India  to  report  on  the  means  by 
which  the  frequency  of  the  female  sacrifice  might 
be  diminished,  and  the  practice  itself  eventually 
abolished  ]  Or  have  the.  propiietors  of  India  stock, 
at  any  time,  instructed  the  Court  of  Directors  to  at- 
tend to  a  point  of  so  much  consequence  to  the  charac- 
ter of  the  Company  and  the  honor  of  the  nation  7 

"  That  the  abolition  is  practicable  has  been  de- 
monstrated, and  that  too  by  the  most  rational  and 
lenient  measures ;  and  these  means  have  been  point- 
ed out  bv  the  Brahmins  themselves. 


CHRISTIAN    RESEARCHES.  279 

"  Hail  Marquis  Wellesley  remainefl  m  India,  and 
been  permitted  to  complete  his  salutary  plans  for 
the  improvement  of  that  distant  empire,  (for  lie  did 
not  finisli  one  half  of  the  civil  and  political  regula- 
tions which  he  had  in  view,  and  had  actually  com- 
menced,) the  female  sacrifice  would  probably  have 
been  by  this  time  nearly  abolished.  The  humanity 
and  intrepid  spirit  of  that  nobleman  abolished  a  yet 
more  criminal  practice,  which  was  considered  by 
the  Hindoos  as  a  religious  rite,  and  consecrated  by 
custom,  I  mean  the  sacrifice  of  children.  His 
lordship  had  been  informed  that  it  had  been  a  cus- 
tom of  the  Hindoos  to  sacrifice  children,  in  conse- 
quence of  vows,  by  drowning  them,  or  exposing 
them  to  sharks  and  crocodiles;  and  that  twenty- 
three  persons  had  perished  at  Saugor  in  one  month, 
(January,  1801,)  many  of  whom  were  sacrificed  in 
this  manner.  He  immediately  instituted  an  in- 
quiry into  the  principle  of  this  ancient  atrocity, 
heard  what  natives  and  Europeans  had  to  say  on 
the  subject,  and  then  passed  a  law,  '  declaring  the 
practice  to  be  murder,  punishable  by  death.'  The 
law  is  entitled  '  A  Regulation  for  preventing  the 
Sacrifice  of  Children  at  Saugor  and  other  places, 
passed  by  the  Governor  General  in  Council  on  the 
20th  of  August,  1S02.'  The  purpose  of  this  regu- 
lation was  completely  effected.  Not  a  murmur 
was  heard  on  the  subject,  nor  has  any  attempt  of 
the  kind  come  to  our  knowledge  since.    It  is  im- 


2S0  ^LEMOia   OF   DR.    BUCHANAN. 

possible  to  calculate  the  number  of  human  lives 
that  have  been  saved  by  this  humane  law  of  Mar- 
quis Wellesley.  Now  it  is  well  known  that  it  is  as 
easy  to  prevent  the  sacrifice  of  women  as  the  sa- 
crifice of  children.  Has  this  fact  ever  been  denied 
by  any  man  who  is  competent  to  offer  a  judgment 
on  the  subject  1  Until  the  supreme  government  in 
Bengal  shall  declare  that  it  is  utterly  impracticable 
to  lessen  the  frequency  of  the  immolation  of  fe- 
males by  any  means,  the  author  will  not  cease 

TO  CALL  THE  ATTENTION  OF  THE  ENGLISH  NATION 


CHAPTER  Vm. 


Christian  HesearcTtes —  Tanjore — Ceylon, 

Dr.  Buchanan  proceeding  towards  Madras,  was 
seized  with  a  partial  relapse  of  fever  j  but  being 
restored  by  the  blessing  of  providence  on  the  kind 
attentions  of  the  natives  into  whose  hands  he  had 

*  It  is  gratifying  to  add,  that  laws  have  since  been  enact- 
ed prohibiting  female  sacrifice  in  BritiiJh  India,  though  it 
continues  in  other  parts  of  India  with  scarcely  diminished 
frequency. 


CHRISTIAN'    RESr:ARCnES.  i-Sl 

fallen,  he  an  ived  at  that  city,  and  the  capital  of  that 
jjresidency,  on  the  31st  of  July.  He  then  proceeded 
to  Tranquebar,  where  he  dates  from  Ziegenbalg's 
church,  August  25th.  Of  his  visit  to  tliis  spot,  con- 
seciated  by  the  memory  of  the  first  christian  mis- 
sionaries to  India,  and  of  hia  subsequent  arrival  and 
discoveries  at  Tanjorc,  he  has  given,  in  his  "  Re- 
searches," the  following  narrative  : 

"  The  first  protcstant  mission  in  India  was 
founded  by  Bartholomew  Ziegenbalg,  a  man  of 
erudition  and  piety,  educated  at  the  university  of 
Halle,  in  Germany.  He  was  ordained  by  the  learn- 
ed Burmannus,  bishop  of  Zealand,  -in  his  twenty- 
third  year,  and  sailed  for  India  in  1705,  In  the  se- 
cond year  of  his  ministry  he  founded  a  christian 
church  among  the  Hindoos,  which  has  been  ex- 
tending its  limits  to  the  present  time.  In  1714  he 
returned  to  Europe  for  a  short  time,  and  on  that 
occasion  was  honored  with  an  audience  by  his  ma- 
jesty George  I.  who  took  much  interest  in  the  suc- 
cess of  the  mission.  He  was  also  patronized  by  the 
Society  for  Promoting  Christian  Knowledge,  which 
was  superintended  by  men  of  distinguished  learn- 
ing and  piety.  The  king  and  the  Society  encou- 
rnged  the  oriental  missionary  to  proceed  in  his 
translation  of  the  Scriptures  into  the  Tamul  tongue, 
whicli  they  designated  '  the  grand  work.'  This  was 
indeed  THE  grand  work  ;  for  wherever  the  Scrip- 
24* 


232  MEMOIR    01'    DR.    BUCHANAN. 

tures  are  translated  into  the  vernacular  tongue,  and 
are  open  and  common  to  all,  inviting  inquiry  and 
causing  discussion,  they  cannot  remain  '  a  dead  let- 
ter.' When  the  Scriptures  speak  to  a  heathen  in 
his  own  tongue,  his  conscience  responds,  '  This  is 
the  v^^ord  of  God.'  How  little  is  the  importance  of 
a  version  of  the  Bible  into  a  new  language  under- 
stood by  some  !  The  man  who  produces  a  transla- 
tion of  the  Bible  into  a  new  language,  (like  Wick- 
liif,  and  Luther,  and  Ziegenbalg,  and  Carey,)  is  a 
greater  benefactor  to  mankind  than  the  prince  who 
founds  an  empire.  For  the  '  incorruptible  seed  of 
the  word  of  God  '  can  never  die.  After  ages  have 
revolved,  it  is  still  producing  new  accessions  to 
truth  and  human  liappiness. 

"  In  the  year  1719  Ziegenbalg  completed  the 
Bible  in  the  Tamul  tongue,  having  devoted  four- 
teen years  to  the  work,  and  the  same  year  entered 
into  his  rest.  After  he  had  finished  his  course,  he 
was  follow^ed  by  other  learned  and  zealous  men, 
upwards  of  fifty  in  number  in  the  period  of  an  hun- 
dred years,  among  whom  were  Schultz,  laenicke, 
Gericke,  and  Swartz,  whose  ministry  has  been 
continued  in  succession  in  different  provinces  unto 
this  time.  The  following  are  extracts  from  the  jour- 
nal of  the  author's  tour  through  these  provinces  : 

"  TfiANauEBAR,  Aug.  25,  180G. 
"  Tranquebar  was  the  first  scene  of  the  protest- 


CHRISTIAN    RESEARCHES.  283 

ant  mission  in  Imlia.  Tiiere  are  at  present  three 
missionaries  here  superintending  the  Hindoo  con- 
gregations. Yesterday  I  visited  the  churcli  built  by 
ZiEGENCAT.G.  His  body  lies  on  one  side  of  the  al- 
tar, and  that  of"  his  fellow- missionary,  Guundlv.r, 
on  the  other.  Above  are  the  epitaphs  of  both,  writ- 
ten in  Latin  and  engraved  on  plates  of  brass.  The 
church  was  consecrated  in  17 IS,  and  Ziegenbalg 
and  his  companion  died  in  two  years  after.  They 
laid  the  foundation  for  evangelizing  India,  and  then 
departed,  '  haviniT  finished  the  work  which  was 
given  them  to  do.'  I  saw  also  the  dwelling-house 
of  Ziegenbalg,  in  the  lower  apartment  of  which 
the  registers  of  the  church  are  still  kept.  In  these 
I  found  the  name  of  the  first  heathen  convert  re- 
ceived by  him,  and  recorded  in  his  own  hand-writ- 
ing in  the  year  1707. 

''  In  Ziegenbalg's  church,  and  from  the  pulpit 
where  he  stood,  I  first  heard  the  Gospel  preached 
to  a  congregation  of  Hindoos  in  their  own  tongue. 
The  missionaries  told  me  that  religion  had  suffered 
much  in  Tranquebar  of  late  years  from  European 
infidelity.  French  principles  had  corrupted  the 
Danes,  and  rendered  them  indifferent  to  their  own 
religion,  and  therefore  hostile  to  the  conversion 
of  the  Hindoos.  '  Religion,'  said  they,  '  flourishes 
more  among  the  natives  of  Tanjore  and  in  other 
provinces  where  there  are  few  Europeans,  than 
here  or  at  Madras  ;  for  we  find  that  European  ex- 


284  MEMOIR   OF    DR.    EUCIIANAN. 

ample  in  the  large  towns  is  the  bane  of  christian 
instruction.' 

''  One  instance  of  hostility  to  the  mission  they 
mentioned  as  having  occurred  only  a  few  weeks 
before  my  arrival.  On  the  9th  of  July,  1756,  the 
native  christians  at  Tranquebar  celebrated  r  jubilee, 
in  commemoration  of  the  ffdetU  year  since  the 
christian  ministers  brought  the  Bible  from  Europe. 
The  present  year,  1S06,  being  the  second  fiftieth, 
preparations  were  made  at  Tranquebar  for  the  se- 
cond jubilee  on  the  9th  of  last  month;  but  the 
French  principles  preponderating  in  the  govern- 
ment, they  would  not  give  it  any  public  support ; 
in  consequence  of  which  it  was  not  observed  with 
that  solemnity  which  was  intended.  But  in  other 
places,  where  there  were  few  Europeans,  it  was 
celebrated  by  the  native  christians  with  enthusiasm 
and  every  demonstration  of  joy.  When  I  expressed 
my  astonishment  at  this  hostility,  the  aged  mis- 
sionary, Dr.  John,  said,  '  I  have  always  remarked 
that  the  disciples  of  Voltaire  are  the  true  enemies 
of  missions,  and  that  the  enemies  of  missions  are, 
in  general,  the  disciples  of  Voltaire.'  " 

«'  Tanjore,  Aug.  30,  180G. 
"  On  my  entering  this  province   I  stopped   an 
hour  at  a  village  near  the  road  ;  and  there  I  first 
lieard  the  name  of  Swartz  pronounced  by  a  Hin- 
doo.    Y/hen  I  arrived  at  the  capital  I  waited  on 


CHRISTIAN'    liESEARCHES.  2SiJ 

'Major  Blackbume,  the  British  resident  at  the  court 
of  Tanjore,  who  informed  me  that  the  rajah  had 
appointed  the  next  day  at  12  o'clock  to  leceive  my 
visit.  On  the  same  day  I  went  to  Swartz's  gar- 
den, close  to  the  christian  village,  where  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Kohloft'  resides.  Mr.  Kohloft'  is  the  worthy 
successor  of  Mr.  Swarlz  ;  and  with  him  I  found 
the  Rev.  Dr.  John  and  Mr.  Horst,  two  other  mis- 
sionaries who  were  on  a  visit  to  Mr.  Kohloff. 

"  Next  day  I  visited  the  rajah  of  Tanjore,  in 
company  with  Major  Blackburne.  When  the  first 
ceremonial  was  over,  the  rajah  conducted  us  to  the 
grand  saloon,  which  was  adorned  by  the  portraits 
of  his  ancestors  ;  and  immediately  led  me  up  to  the 
portrait  of  Mr.  Swartz.  He  then  discoursed  for  a 
considerable  time  concerning  that  '  good  man,* 
whom  he  ever  revered  as  '  his  father  and  guardian.' 
The  rajah  speaks  and  writes  English  very  intelli- 
gibly. I  smiled  to  see  Swartz's  picture  amongst 
these  Hindoo  kings,  and  thought  with  myself  that 
there  are  many  who  would  think  such  a  combina- 
tion scarcely  possible.  I  then  addressed  the  rajah, 
and  thanked  him,  in  the  name  of  the  church  of 
England,  for  his  kindness  to  the  late  Mr.  Swartz, 
and  to  his  successors,  and  particularly  for  his  re- 
cent acts  of  benevolence  to  the  christians  residing 
within  his  provinces.  The  missionaries  had  just 
informed  me  that  the  rajah  had  erected  '  a  college 
for  Hindoos,   Mohammedans,  and  Christians  ;'  in 


2S6  MEMOIR    OF    DR.    RUCIIANAN.  ^ 

which  provision  was  made  for  the  instruction  of 
^  fifty  christian  children.'  His  highness  is  very  de- 
sirous that  I  should  visit  this  college,  which  is  only 
about  sixteen  miles  from  the  capital.  Having  heard 
of  the  fame  of  the  iincient  Shanscrit,  and  Mahratta 
library  of  the  kings  of  Tanjore,  I  requested  his 
highness  would  present  a  catalogue  of  its  volumes 
to  the  college  of  Fort  William  ;  which  he  was 
pleased  to  do.  It  is  voluminous,  and  written  in 
the  Mahratta  character ;  for  that  is  the  proper  lan- 
guage of  the  Tanjore  court. 

"  In  the  evening  I  dined  with  the  resident,  and 
the  rajah  sent  his  band  of  music,  consisting  of  eight 
or  more  vinas,  with  other  instruments.  The  vina, 
or  hee)i,  is  the  ancient  instrument  which  Sir  Wil- 
liam Jones  has  described  in  his  interesting  descant 
on  the  musical  science  of  the  Hindoos,  in  the  Asi- 
atic Researches,  and  the  sight  of  which,  he  says, 
he  found  it  so  difficult  to  obtain  in  northern  India. 
The  band  played  the  English  air  of '  God  save  the 
King,'  set  to  Mahratta  words,  and  applied  to  the 
Maha  Rajah,  or  great  king  of  Tanjore.  Two  of 
the  missionaries  dined  at  the  resident's  house,  to- 
G^ether  with  some  English  officers.  Mr.  KohlofF 
informed  me  that  Major  Blackburne  has  promoted 
the  interests  of  the  mission  by  every  means  in  his 
power.  Major  Blackburne  is  a  man  of  superior 
attainments,  amiable  manners,  and  a  hospitable  dis- 
position ;  and  is  well  qualified  for  the  important 


CHRISTIAN    RESEARCHES.  287 

Station  he  has  long  held  as  English  resident  at  this 
court. 

"  On  the  day  following  I  went  to  view  the  Hin- 
doo temples,  and  saw  the  great  black  bull  of  Tan- 
jore.  It  is  said  to  be  of  one  stone  hewn  out  of  a 
rock  of  granite,  and  so  large  that  the  temple  was 
built  around  it.  While  I  surveyed  it  I  reflected  on 
the  multitude  of  natives,  who,  during  the  last  hun- 
dred years,  had  turned  away  their  eyes  from  this 
idol.  When  I  returned  I  sat  some  hours  with  the 
missionaries,  conversing  on  the  general  state  of 
Christianity  in  the  provinces  of  Tanjore,  Tritchino- 
poly,  Madura,  and  Palamcottah.  They  want  help. 
Their  vineyard  is  increased,  and  their  laborers  are 
decreased.  They  have  had  no  supply  from  Germa- 
ny in  the  room  of  Swartz,  laenicke,  and  Gericke  ; 
and  they  have  no  prospect  of  further  supply,  except 
from  the  Society  for  Promoting  Christian  Know- 
ledge ;  who,  they  hope,  will  be  able  to  send  out 
English  preachers  to  perpetuate  the  mission." 

"  Tanjore,  Sept.  2,  1806. 
"  Last  Sunday  and  Monday  were  interesting 
days  to  me  at  Tanjore.  It  being  rumored  that  a 
friend  of  the  late  Mr.  Swartz  had  arrived,  the  peo- 
ple assembled  from  all  quarters.  On  Sunday  three 
sermons  were  preached  in  three  different  langua- 
ges. At  eight  o'clock  we  proceeded  to  the  church 
built  by  Mr.  Swartz  within   the  fort.    From   Mr. 


2SS  MEMOIR    OF    Bti.    EUCHANAX. 

Swartz's  pulpit  I  preached  in  English  from  Mark 
13;  10,  'And  the  Gospel  must  first  be  published 
among  all  nations.*  The  English  gentlemen  here 
attended,  civil  and  military,  with  tlie  missionaries, 
catechists,  and  British  soldiers.  After  this  service 
was  ended,  the  congregation  of  Hindoos  assembled 
in  the  same  church  and  filled  the  aisles  and  porch- 
es. The  Tamul  service  commenced  with  some 
forms  of  prayer,  in  which  all  the  congregation 
joined  with  loud  fervor.  A  chapter  of  the  Bible 
was  then  lead.  and  a  hymn  of  Luther's  suncr.  After 
a  short  extempore  prayer,  during  v/hich  the  whole 
congregation  knelt  on  the  floor,  the  Rev,  Dr.  John 
delivered  an  animated  discourse  in  the  Tamul 
tongue,  from  these  words,  *  Jesus  stood  and  cried, 
saying,  if  any  man  thirst,  let  liim  come  to  me  and 
drink.'  As  Mr.  Whitefield,  on  his  first  "-oino'  to 
Scotland,  was  surprised  at  the  rustling  of  the  leaves 
of  the  Bible,  which  took  place  immediately  on  his 
pronouncing  his  text,  (so  different  from  any  thing 
he  had  seen  in  his  own  country,)  so  I  was  surpris- 
ed here  at  the  sound  of  the  iron  pen  engraving 
the  palmyra  leaf.  Many  persons  had  their  ollas  in 
their  hands  writing  the  sermon  in  Tamul  short- 
hand. Mr.  Kohloil"  assured  me  that  some  of  the 
elder  students  and  catechists  will  not  lose  a  word 
of  the  preacher  if  he  speak  deliberately.*  This, 

*  It  is  well  knoTvn  that  natives  of  Tanjore  and  Tra- 
vancore  can  write  llnenfly  v/hat  is  .spoken  deliberately. 


CHKISTIAN    lU.SLAnCIIES.  289 

ihoujjlit  I,  is  more  than  some  of  the  students  at  our 
English  universities  can  do.  This  aptitude  of  the 
people  to  record  the  words  of  the  preacher  ren- 
ders it  peculiarly  necessary  '  that  the  priest's  lips 
should  keep  knowledge.'  An  old  rule  of  the  mis- 
sion is,  that  the  sermon  of  the  morning  should  bo 
read  to  the  schools  in  the  evening,  by  the  c'atechist, 
from  his  palmyra  leaf. 

''  Another  custom  obtains  among  th(ini  which 
pleased  me  much.  In  the  midst  of  the  discourse 
the  preacher  sometimes  puts  a  question  to  the  con- 
gregation, who  answer  it  without  hesitation,  in  one 
voice.  The  object  is  to  keep  their  attention  awake, 
and  the  minister  generally  prompts  the  answer  him- 
self. Thus,  suppose  that  he  is  saying,  '  My  dear 
brethren,  it  is  true  that  your  profession  of  the  faith 
of  Christ  is  attended  with  some  rejDroacb,  and  that 
you  have  lost  your  cast  with  the  Brahmins.  But 
your  case  is  not  peculiar.  The  man  of  the  world  is 
tlie  man  of  cast  in  Europe,  and  he  despises  the 
humble  and  devout  disciple  of  Christ,  even  as  your 
Brahmin  contemns  the  Sooder.  But,  thus  it  hath 
been  from  the  beginning.  Every  faithful  christian 
must  lose  cast  for  the  Gospel ;  even  as  Christ  him- 
self, the  Forerunner,  made  himself  of  no  reputa- 
tion, and  was  despised  and  rejected  of  men.  In 
like  manner  you  will  be  despised  ;  but  be  of  good 

They  do  not  look  much  at  their  ollas  while  writing.  The 
fibre  of  the  leaf  guides  the  pen. 

DiK'ituiiun.  ^^ 


200  MICMOIR    or    DR.    CUCIIAXAN. 

cheer,  and  say,  tliough  we  have  lost  our  cast  and  in- 
heritance arnonfTst  men,  we  shall  receive  in  heaven 
a  new  name  and  a  better  inheritance  through  Jesus 
Christ  our  Lord.  He  then  adds,  '  What,  my  be- 
loved brethren,  shall  you  obtain  in  heaven  V  They 
answer,  '  A  new  name  and  a  better  inheritance, 
through  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord.'  It  is  impossible 
for  a  stranger  not  to  be  affected  with  this  scene. 
This  custom  is  deduced  from  Ziei^enbals^,  who 
proved  its  use  by  long  experience. 

'*  After  the  sermon  was  ended  I  returned  with 
the  missionaries  into  the  vestry  or  library  of  the 
church.  Here  I  was  introduced  to  the  elders  and 
catechists  of  the  conorreo^ation.  Anions^  others  came 
Sattianaden,  the  Hindoo  preacher,  one  of  wliose 
sermons  was  published  in  England  some  years  ago 
by  the  Society  for  Promoting  Christian  Knowledge. 
He  is  now  advanced  in  years,  and  his  black  locks 
have  orrovvn  ofrav.  As  1  returned  from  the  church 
I  saw  the  christian  families  going  back  in  crowds 
to  the  country,  and  the  boys  looking  at  their  ollas. 
What  a  contrast,  thought  I,  is  this  to  the  scene  at 
Jugfaernaut !  Here  there  is  becoming:  dress,  hu- 
mane  affections,  and  rational  discourse.  I  see  here 
no  skulls,  no  self  torture,  no  self-murder,  no  dogs 
/  and  vultures  tearing  human  flesh  !  Here  the  chris- 
tian virtues  are  found  in  exercise  by  the  feeble- 
minded Hindoo,  in  a  vigor  and  purity  which  will 
surprise  those  who  have  never  known  the  native 


CnniSTIAN    r.ESEARCMES.  201 

character  but  miJer  tlin  j^eatest  disadvnnlat^ep.,  as 
in  Bengal.  It  certainly  surprised  myself,  and  ulieii 
1  reflected  on  llie  moral  conduct,  upright  dealinu:, 
and  decoroiis  manners  of  the  native  christians  (»f 
Tanjore,  T  found  in  my  breast  a  new  evidence  of 
the  peculiar  excellence  and  benign  influence  of 
the  christian  faith. 

*•  At  four  o'clock  in  tlie  afternoon  we  attended 
divine  service  at  the  chapel  in  the  mission  garden 
out  of  the  fort.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Horst  preached  in 
the  Portuguese  language.  The  organ  here  accom- 
panied the  voice  in  singing.  I  sat  on  a  granite 
stone  which  covered  the  grave  ^of  Swartz.  The 
epitaph  is  in  English  verse,  written  by  the  present 
rajah,  and  signed  by  him,  '  Serfogee.'  In  the  even- 
ing Mr.  Kohloft'  presided  in  the  exercise  in  the 
schools,  on  which  occasion  the  Tamul  sermon  was 
repeated,  and  the  boys'  ollas  examined. 

'■  In  consequence  of  my  having  expressed  a 
wish  to  hear  Sattianaden  preach,  Mr.  Kohlofl"  had 
given  notice  that  there  would  be  divine  service 
next  day,  Monday.  Accordingly  the  chapel  in 
Swartz's  garden  was  crowded  at  an  early  hour. 
.Sattianaden  delivered  his  discourse  in  the  Tamul 
language,  with  much  natural  eloquence,  and  witii 
visible  effect.  His  subject  was  the  '  marvellous 
light.'  He  first  described  the  pagan  darkness,  then 
the  light  of  Ziegenbalg,  then  the  light  of  Swartz, 
and  then  the  heavenlv  light,  '  when  there  shall  be 


292  MEMOIR    OF    DR.    BUCITAXAN. 

no  more  need  of  the  light  of  the  sun,  or  of  the 
moon.'  In  quoting  a  passage  from  Scripture,  he 
desired  a  lower  minister  to  read  it,  listening  to  it 
as  to  a  record  ;  and  then  proceeded  to  the  illustra- 
tion. The  responses  by  the  audience  were  more 
frequently  called  for  than  in  the  former  sermon. 
He  concluded  with  praying  fervently  for  the  churcli 
<»f  England.  After  the  sermon  I  went  up  to  Sattiana- 
den,  and  the  old  christians  who  had  known  Swartz 
came  around  us.  They  were  anxious  to  hear  some- 
thing of  the  progress  of  Christianity  in  the  north  of 
India.  They  said  they  had  heard  good  news  from 
Bengal.  I  told  them  that  the  news  was  good,  but 
that  Bengal  was  exactly  a  hundred  years  behind 
Tanjore. 

I  have  had  long  conversations  with  the  mission- 
aries relating  to  the  present  circumstances  of  the 
Tanjore  mission.  It  is  in  a  languishing  state  at  this 
moment,  in  consequence  of  the  war  on  the  conti- 
nent of  Europe.  Two  of  its  sources  have  dried  up, 
the  royal  college  at  Copenhagen,  and  the  orphan 
house  at  Halle,  in  Germany.  Their  remaining  re- 
source from  Europe  is  the  stipend  of  the  Society 
for  Promoting  Christian  Knowledge ;  whom  they 
never  mention  but  with  emotions  of  gratitude  rmd 
affection.  But  this  supply  is  by  no  means  comnuMi- 
surate  with  the  increasing  number  of  their  churches 
and  schools.  The  chief  support  of  the  mission  is 
derived  from  itself   Mr.  Swartz  had  in  his  life-time 


CHRISTIAN  RESi:.vnciir.s.  293 

acquired  a  considerable  property,  through  the  kind- 
ness of  the  English  government  and  of  the  native 
princes.  When  he  was  dying,  he  said,  '  Let  the 
cause  of  Christ  be  my  heir.'  When  his  colleague, 
the  pious  Gericke,  was  departing,  he  also  bequeath- 
ed his  property  to  the  mission.  And  now  Mr.  Kohl- 
of!'  gives  from  his  private  funds  an  annual  sum  ; 
not  that  he  can  well  afford  it;  but  the  mission  is 
so  extended  that  he  gives  it,  he  told  me,  to  pre- 
serve the  new  and  remote  congregations  in  exist- 
ence. He  stated  that  there  were  upwards  of  ten 
thousand  protestant  christians  belonging  to  the 
Tanjoi'e  and  Tinavelly  districts  alone,  who  had 
not  among  them  one  complete  copy  of  the 
Bible ;  and  that  not  one  christian  perhaps  in  a 
hundred  had  a  New  Testament ;  and  yet  there  are 
some  copies  of  the  Tamul  Scriptures  still  to  be  sold 
at  Tranquebar ;  but  the  poor  natives  cannot  afford 
to  purchase  them.  When  I  mentioned  the  designs 
of  the  Bible  Society  in  England,  they  received  the 
tidings  with  very  sensible  emotions  of  thankfulness. 
Mr.  Hoist  said,  *  If  only  every  tenth  person  were 
to  obtain  a  copy  of  the  Scriptures,  it  would  be  an 
event  long  to  be  remembered  in  Tanjore.'  They 
lamented  much  that  they  were  destitute  of  the.  aid 
of  a  -printing- press,  and  represented  to  me  that  the 
progress  of  Christianity  had  been  materially  retard- 
ed of  late  years  by  the  want  of  that  important  aux- 
iliary. They  have  petitioned  the  Society  for  Pro- 
2o» 


294  MEMOIR   OF    DR.    BUCHANAN. 

rnoting  Christian  Knowledge  to  send  them  one. 
They  justly  observed,  If  you  can  no  longer  send  us 
missionaries  to  preach  the  G  ospel,  send  us  the  means 
of  printing  the  Gospel.  The  Tranquebar  mission 
and  the  Madras  mission  have  both  possessed  print- 
ing-presses for  a  long  period ;  by  the  means  of 
which  they  have  been  extensively  useful  in  distri- 
buting the  Scriptures  and  religious  publications  in 
several  languages.  The  mission  press  at  Tranque- 
bar was  established  by  Ziegenbalg.  From  this 
press,  in  conjunction  with  that  at  Halle,  in  Germa- 
ny, have  proceeded  volumes  in  Arabic,  Syriac, 
Hindostanee,  Tamul,  Telinga,  Portuguese,  Danish, 
and  English.  I  have  in  my  possession  the  Psalms 
of  David  in  the  Hindostanee  language,  printed  in 
the  Arabic  character;  and  the  History  of  Christ  in 
Syriac,  intended  probably  for  the  Syro-Romish 
christians  on  the  sea-coast  of  Travancore,  whom  a 
Danish  missicmary  once  visited — both  of  which  vo- 
lumes were  edited  by  the  missionaries  of  Tranque- 
bar. There  is  also  in  Swartz's  library  at  Tanjore 
a  grammar  of  the  Hindostanee  language  in  quarto, 
published  at  the  same  press ;  an  important  fact 
which  was  not  known  at  the  college  of  Fort  Wil- 
liam when  Professor  Gilchrist  commenced  his  use- 
ful labors  in  that  language." 

"  Tanjore,  September  3,  1806. 
"  Before  I  left  the  capital  of  Tanjore  the  rajah 


CHRISTIAN    RESEARCHES.  29o 

was  pleased  to  honor  me  with  a  second  audience. 
On  this  occasion  he  presented  to  me  a  very  strik- 
ing likeness,  painted  by  a  Hindoo  artist  at  the  Tan- 
jore  court.  The  missionary  Dr.  John  accompanied 
me  to  the  palace.  The  rajah  received  him  with 
much  kindness,  and  presented  to  him  a  piece  of 
gold  cloth.  Of  the  resident  missionary  Mr.  Kohloff, 
whom  the  rajah  sees  frequently,  he  spoke  to  me  in 
terms  of  high  approbation.  This  cainiot  be  very 
agreeable  to  the  Brahmins  ;  but  the  rajah,  though  ho 
yet  professes  the  Brahminical  religion,  is  no  longer 
obedient  to  the  dictates  of  the  Brahmins,  and  they 
arc  compelled  to  admit  his  superior  attainments  in 
knowledge.  I  passed  the  chief  part  of  this  morn- 
ing in  looking  over  Mr.  Swartz's  manuscripts  and 
books :  and  when  I  was  coming  away  Mr.  KohlofT 
presented  to  me  a  Hebrew  Psalter,  which  had  been 
Mr.  Swartz's  companion  for  fifty  years  ;  also  a  brass 
lamp  which  he  had  got  first  when  a  student  at  the 
college  of  Halle,  and  had  used  in  his  lucubrations 
to  the  time  of  his  death ;  for  Mr.  Svvartz  seldom 
'preached  to  the  natives  without  jrrevioiis  study.  I 
thought  I  saw  the  image  of  Swartz  in  his  successor. 
Mr.  Kohloff  is  a  man  of  great  simplicity  of  man- 
ners, of  meek  deportment,  of  ardent  zeal  in  the 
cause  of  revealed  religion  and  of  humanity.  He 
walked  with  me  through  the  christian  village  close 
to  his  house ;  and  I  was  much  pleased  to  see  the 
aflectionate  respect  of  the  people  towards  him  ;  the 


296  MEMOIR    OF    DR.    BUCHANAN. 

young  people  of  both  sexes  comini^  forward  from 
the  doors,  on  both  sides,  to  sahite  him  and  receive 
his  benediction." 

"  September  4,  1806. 

"  Leaving  Tanjore,  I  passed  through  the  woods 
inhabited  by  the  collaries  (or  thieves)  now  human- 
ized by  Christianity.  When  tliey  understood  who 
I  was,  they  foilov/ed  me  on  the  road,  stating  their 
destitute  condition  in  regard  to  religious  instruc- 
tion. They  were  damoruua  for  Bibles.  They  sup- 
plicated for  teachers.  'AVe  don't  want  bread  or  mo- 
ney from  you,'  said  they,  '  but  we  want  the  word 
of  God.'  Now,  thought  1,  whose  duty  is  it  to  attend 
to  the  moral  wants  of  this  people  ]  Is  it  that  of  the 
English  nation,  or  of  some  other  nation  1" 

"  Tkitchinopoly,  September  5. 
"  The  first  church  built  by  Swartz  is  at  this  place. 
It  is  called  Christ's  church,  and  is  a  large  building, 
capable  of  containing  perhaps  two  thousand  peo- 
ple. The  aged  missionary,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Pohle, 
presides  over  this  church,  and  over  the  native  con- 
gregations at  this  place.  Christianity  flourishes;  but 
I  found  that  here,  as  at  other  places,  there  is  a 
'famine  of  Bibles.'  The  jubilee  was  celebrated  on 
the  9th  of  July,  being  the  hundredth  year  from  the 
arrival  of  the  messengers  of  the  Gospel.  On  this 
occasion    their    venerable   pastor   preached    from 


CHRISTIAN  RnsEARciirs.  297 

Matt.  2S  :  19  ;  '  Go  ye  therefore,  and  teacli  all  na- 
tions, baptizing  them  in  the  name  of  the  Father, 
and  of  the  Son,  and  of  the  Holy  Ghost.'  At  tliis 
station  there  are  about  a  thousand  English  troops. 
Mr.  Pohle  being  a  German,  does  not  speak  Eng- 
lish very  well  ;  but  he  is  reverenced  for  his  piety 
by  the  English ;  and  both  officers  and  men  are 
glad  to  hear  the  religion  of  their  country  'preached  in 
any  way.  0\\  a  Sunday  morning  I  preached  in 
Christ's  church  to  a  full  assembly,  from  these 
words,  *  For  we  have  seen  his  star  in  the  East,  and 
are  come  to  worship  him.'  Indeed  what  I  had 
seen  in  these  provinces  rendered  this  text  the  most 
appropriate  I  could  select.  Next  day  some  of  the 
Eng^lish  soldiers  came  to  me,  desirins:  to  know 
how  they  might  procure  Bibles.  '  It  is  a  delight- 
ful thin?,'  said  one  of  them,  '  to  hear  our  own  reli- 
gion  preached  by  our  own  countryman,'  I  am  in- 
formed that  there  are  at  this  time  above  twenty 
English  regiments  in  India,  and  not  one  of  them 
has  a  chaplain.  The  men  live  without  religion, 
and  then  they  bury  each  other.  O  England,  Eng- 
land, it  is  not  for  thine  own  goodness  that  provi- 
dence giveth  thee  the  treasures  of  India  ! 

"  I  proceed  hence  to  visit  the  christian  churches 
in  the  provinces  of  Madura  and  Tinavelly." 

"  The  friends  of  Christianity  in  India  have  had 
it  in  their  power  to  afford  some  aid  to  the  christian 


298  MEMOIR    OF    DR.    BUCHANAN. 

churches  In  Tanjore.  On  the  1st  ofJanuary  of  the 
present  year  (ISiO)  the  Rev.  Mr.  l^rown  preached 
a  sermon  at  Calcutta,  in  whicli  he  represented  the 
petition  of  the  Hindoos  for  Bibles.  A  plain  state- 
ment of  the  fact  was  sufficient  to  open  the  hearts  of 
the  public.  A  subscription  was  immediately  set 
on  foot,  and  Lieut.  General  Hewitt,  commander  in 
chief,  then  deputy  governor  in  Bengal,  subscribed 
c£250.  The  chief  officers  of  government  and  the 
principal  inhabitants  of  Calcutta  raised  the  sub- 
scription in  a  few  days  to  the  sum  of  c£1000  ster- 
ling. Instructions  were  sent  to  Mr.  Kohloff  to 
buy  up  all  the  copies  of  the  Tamul  Scriptures,  to 
distribute  them  at  a  small  price  amongst  the  na- 
tives, and  to  order  a  new  edition  to  be  printed  off 
without  loss  of  time." 

On  the  14th  of  September  at  Madura,  where 
Dr.  Buchanan  ''  passed  three  days  among  its  ruins 
and  antiquities,"  and  which  he  says  is  "  aline  sta- 
tion for  the  Gospel,"  he  addressed  a  letter  to  Mr. 
Grant,  chiefly  occupied  with  the  state  of  missions 
supported  by  the  Society  for  Promoting  Christian 
Knowledge,  which  he  had  visited.  Passing  through 
Ramnad  Pooram,  he  then  visited  the  island  of 
Ramisseram,  "  the  Ju^Qrernaut  of  the  south,"  and 
from  thence  crossed  to  Ceylon.  His  notices  of  that 
island  embrace  passages  of  his  journal,  written  at 
Columbo,  eighteen  months  later,  as  he  was  return- 
ing from  Calcutta  to  England. 


CItniSTIAN    RCSnARCIIES.  209 

"  jArFNA-PATAM,  in  Ceylon,  Sept.  27,  ISOC. 

"  From  the  Hindoo  temple  of  Ramisseram  1 
crossed  over  to  Ceylon,  keeping  close  to  Adam's 
bridge.  I  was  surprised  to  find  that  all  the  boatmen 
were  christians  of  Ceylon.  1  asked  the  helmsman 
what  religion  the  English  piofessed  who  now  gov- 
erned the  island.  He  said  he  could  not  tell,  only 
that  they  were  not  of  the  Portiiguese  or  Dutch  re- 
ligion, I  was  not  so  much  surprised  at  his  igno- 
rance afterwards  as  I  was  at  the  time. 

"  I  have  had  the  pleasure  to  meet  here  with 
Alexander  Johnstone,  Esq.  of  the  supreme  court 
of  judicature,  who  is  on  the  circuit;  a  man  of  large 
and  liberal  views,  the  friend  of  learning  and  of 
Christianity.  He  is  well  acquainted  with  the  lan- 
guage of  the  country  and  with  the  history  of  the 
island  ;  and  his  professional  pursuits  afford  him  a 
particular  knowledge  of  its  present  state  ;  so  that 
his  communications  are  truly  valuable.  It  will  be 
scarcely  believed  in  England  that  there  are  here 
protestant  churches  under  the  king's  government 
which  are  without  ministers. 

"  In  the  time  of  Baldceus,  the  Dutch  preacher 
and  historian,  there  were  thirty-two  christian  church- 
es in  the  province  of  Jaffna  alone.  At  this  time 
there  is  not  one  protestant  European  minister  in 
the  whole  province.  I  ought  to  except  Mr.  Palm, 
a  solitary  missionary,  who  has  been  sent  out  by  the 
London  Society,  and  receives  some  stipend  from 


300  MEMOIR    OF    DR.    BUCHANAN. 

the  British  government.  I  visited  Mr.  Palm  at  his 
residence  a  few  miles  from  the  town  of  Jaffna.  He 
is  prosecuting  the  study  of  the  Tamul  language  ; 
for  that  is  the  language  of  this  part  of  Ceylon,  from 
its  proximity  to  the  Tamul  continent.  Mrs.  Palm 
has  made  as  great  progress  in  the  language  as  her 
husband,  and  is  extremely  active  in  the  instruction 
of  the  native  women  and  children.  I  asked  her  if 
she  had  no  wish  to  return  to  Europe,  after  living 
so  long  among  the  uncivilized  Cingalese.  '  No/ 
she  said;  '  she  was  all  the  day  long  happy  in  the 
communication  of  knowledge.'  Mr.  Palm  has  taken 
possession  of  the  old  protestant  church  of  Tilli- 
pally.  By  reference  to  the  history,  I  found  it  was 
the  church  in  which  Baldaeus  himself  preached  (as 
he  himself  mentions)  to  a  congregation  of  two 
thousand  natives  ;  for  a  view  of  the  church  is  given 
in  his  work. 

''  Most  of  those  handsome  churches,  of  which 
views  are  given  in  the  plates  of  Baldaeus's  history, 
are  now  in  ruins.  Even  in  the  town  and  fort  of 
Jaftha,  where  there  is  a  spacious  edifice  for  divine 
worship,  and  a  respectable  society  of  English  and 
Dutch  inhabitants,  no  clergyman  has  yet  been  ap- 
]>ointed.  The  only  protestant  preacher  in  the  town 
of  .Jaffna  is  Christian  David,  a  Hindoo  catechist 
sent  over  by  the  mission  of  Tranquebar.  His  chief 
ministrations  are  in  the  Tamul  tongue  ;  but  he 
sometimes  preaches  in  the  English  language,  which 


CHRISTIAN    UESEARCHES.  301 

he  speaks  with  tolerable  propriety,  and  the  Dutch 
and  English  resort  to  him.  1  went  with  the  rest  to 
his  church  ;  when  he  delivered  extempore  a  very 
excellent  discourse,  which  his  present  majesty 
George  III.  would  not  have  disdained  to  hear.  And 
this  Hindoo  supports  the  interests  of  the  English 
church  in  the  province  of  Jaffna.  The  Dutch  mi- 
nisters who  formerly  officiated  here  have  gone  to 
Hatavia  or  to  Europe.  The  whole  district  is  now 
in  the  hands  of  the  Romish  priests  from  the  college 
of  Goa,  who,  perceiving  the  indifference  of  the 
English  nation  to  their  own  religion,  have  assumed 
quiet  and  undisturbed  possession  of  the  land.  And 
the  English  government,  justly  preferring  the  Ro- 
mish superstition  to  the  worship  of  the  idol  Boodha, 
thinks  it  rii^ht  to  countenance  the  catholic  relitrion 
in  Ceylon.  But  whenever  our  church  shall  direct 
her  attention  to  the  promotion  of  Christianity  in 
the  East,  I  know  of  no  place  which  is  more  worthy 
of  her  labor  than  the  old  protestant  vineyard  of 
.raffna-patam.  The  Scriptures  are  already  prepared 
in  the  Tamul  language.  The  language  of  the  rest 
of  Ceylon  is  the  Cingalese  or  Ceylonese." 

"  CoLUMBo,  in  Ceylon,  March  10,  1808. 
" I  find  that  the  south  part  of  the  island  is 


in  much  the  same  state  as  the  north,  in  regard  to 
christian  instruction.  There  are  but  two  Enf^lish 
clergymen  in  the  whole  island.     '  What  wonder,' 

Buclianuii.  -t) 


I 


302  MEMOIR    OF    DR.    BUCHANAN. 

said  a  Romish  priest  to  me,  '  that  your  nation 
should  be  so  little  interested  about  the  conversion 
of  the  pagans  to  Christianity,  when  it  does  not  even 
give  teachers  to  its  own  subjects  who  are  already 
christians  V  I  was  not  surprised  to  hear  that  great 
numbers  of  the  protestants  every  year  go  back  to 
idolatry.  Being  destitute  of  a  head  to  take  cogni- 
zance of  their  state,  they  apostatize  to  Boodha,  as 
the  Israelites  turned  to  Baal  and  Ashteroth.  It  is 
perhaps  true  that  the  religion  of  Christ  has  never 
been  so  disgraced  in  any  age  of  the  church  as  it 
has  been  lately  by  our  official  neglect  of  the  pro- 
lestant  church  in  Ceylon. 

"  In  returning  from  the  country  I  passed  through 
the  groves  of  Chmamon,  which  extend  nearly  a 
mile  in  length.  Ceylon  is  believed  by  some  of  the 
easterns,  both  Mohammedans  and  Hindoos,  to  have 
been  the  residence  of  the  first  man,  (for  the  Hin- 
doos have  a  first  man  and  a  garden  of  Eden  as 
well  as  the  christians,)  because  it  abounds  in  '  trees 
pleasant  to  the  eyes  and  good  for  food,'  and  is 
famous  for  its  rare  metals  and  precious  stones. 
'  There  is  gold,  bdellium,  and  the  onyx-stone.' 
The  rocky  bridge  which  connects  this  happy  island 
with  the  main  land  is  called  Adam's  Bridge  ;  the 
lofty  mountain  in  the  middle  of  the  island,  every 
where  visible,  is  called  Adam's  Peak  ;  and  there 
is  a  sepulchre  of  immense  length  which  they  call 
Abel's  Tomb.    All  these  names  were  given  many 


CHRISTIAN    RESEARCHES.  303 

ages  before  the  introduction  of  Christianity  from 
Europe.  The  cinnamon  trees  love  a  sandy  soil. 
The  surface  of  the  ground  appeared  to  be  entirely 
sand.  I  thought  it  wonderful  that  the  most  valua- 
ble of  all  trees  should  grow  in  luxuriance  in  such 
an  arid  soil  without  human  culture.  I  compared 
them  in  my  mind  to  the  Ceylon  christians  in  their 
present  state,  who  are  left  to  flourish  by  themselves 
under  the  blessing  of  heaven,  without  those  exter- 
nal and  rational  aids  which  have  been  divinely  ap- 
pointed to  nourish  the  church  of  Christ." 

"CoLUMBo,  March  11,  1808. 
"  I  have  conversed  with  intelligent  persons  on  the 
means  of  translating  the  Scriptures  into  the  Cinga- 
lese laniruao^e.  The  whole  of  the  New  Testament 
has  been  translated,  but  only  three  books  of  the 
Old  Testament.  But  even  this  portion  has  been 
translated  almost  in  vain,  for  there  is  no  supply  of 
books  for  the  use  of  the  people.  I  reflected  with  as. 
tonishment  on  the  fact  that  there  are,  by  my  com- 
putation, 500,000  natives  in  Ceylon  professing  Chris- 
tianity, and  that  there  should  not  be  one  complete 
copy  of  the  Holy  Scriptures  in  the  vernacular 
tongue.  Samuel  Tolfry,  Esq.  head  of  a  civil  de- 
partment in  Columbo,  is  a  good  Cingalese  scholar, 
and  is  now  engaged  in  compiling  a  Cingalese  dic- 
tionary. I  proposed  to  him  to  undei  take  the  com- 
pletion of  the  Cingalese  version,  which  is  easily 


304  MEMOIR    OF    DR.    BUCHANAN. 

practicable,  as  there  are  many  learned  Cingalese 
christians  in  Columbo.  He  professed  himself  ready- 
to  engage  in  the  work  provided  he  should  receive 
the  sanction  of  the  government.  I  mentioned  to 
him  a  conversation  I  had  had  with  General  Mait- 
land,  and  his  favorable  sentiments  on  the  subject ; 
and  added,  that  a  correspondence  would  be  imme- 
diately commenced  with  him  from  Calcutta  con- 
cerning the  work,  and  funds  apportioned  for  the 
execution  of  it.  Alexander  Johnstone,  Esq.  who  is 
now  in  Columbo,  has  furnished  me  with  his  senti- 
ments on  the  best  means  of  reviving  and  maintain- 
ing the  protestant  interest  in  Ceylon.  Did  his  pro- 
fessional avocations  permit,  Mr.  Johnstone  is  him- 
self the  fit  person  to  superintend  the  translation 
and  printing  of  the  Scriptures.  It  is  a  proof  of  the 
interest  which  this  gentleman  takes  in  the  progress 
of  christian  knowledge,  that  he  has  caused  Bishop 
Porteus'  Evidences  of  Christianity  to  be  translated 
into  the  Cingalee  tongue,  for  distribution  among 
the  natives." 


CHAPTER   IX. 

Syrian  Christians  in  India, 

Dr.  Buchanan  having  returned  from  Ceylon  to 
the  continent  in  October,  lS06,his  ''  Christian  Re- 


CHRISTIAN    RESEAIICHES.  305 

searches"  give  the  following  highly  interesting  facts 
respecting  the  numerous  Syrian  churches  in  liidta  : 

"  The  Syrian  christians  inhabit  the  interior  of 
Travancore  and  Malabar,  in  the  south  of  India  ;  and 
have  been  settled  there  from  the  early  ages  of 
Christianity.  The  first  notices  of  this  ancient  people 
in  recent  times  are  to  be  found  in  the  Portuguese 
histories.  When  Vasco  de  Gama  arrived  at  Cochin, 
on  the  coast  of  Malabar,  in  the  year  1503,  he  saw 
the  sceptre  of  the  christian  king ;  for  the  Syrian 
christians  had  formerly  regal  power  in  Malay-ala.* 
The  name  or  title  of  their  last  king  was  Beliarte; 
and  he  dying  without  issue,  the  dominion  devolved 
on  the  king  of  Cochin  and  Diamper. 

"  When  the  Portuguese  arrived  they  were  agree- 
ably surprised  to  find  upwards  of  a  hundred  chris- 
tian churches  on  the  coast  of  Malabar.  But  when 
they  became  acquainted  with  the  purity  and  sim- 
plicity of  their  worship  they  were  offended.  '  These 
churches,'  said  the  Portuguese,  '  belong  to  the 
pope.'  '  Who  is  the  pope  V  said  the  natives ;  '  wc 
never  heard  of  him.'    The  European  priests  were 

*  Malay-ala  is  the  proper  name  for  the  \vhole  country  of 
Travancore  and  Malabar,  comprehending  the  territory  be- 
tween the  mountains  and  the  sea,  from  Cape  Comorin  to 
Cape  Illi  or  Dilly.  The  language  of  these  extensive  regions 
is  called  Malayalim,  and  sometimes  Malabar.  "VVe  shall 
use  the  word  Malabar,  as  being  of  easier  pronunciation. 
26* 


306  MEMOIR   OF    DR.    BUCHANAN. 

yet  more  alarmed,  when  they  found  that  these 
Hindoo  christians  maintained  the  order  and  disci- 
pline of  a  regular  church  under  episcopal  jurisdic- 
tion ;  and  that  for  thirteen  hundred  years  past  they 
had  enjoyed  a  succession  of  bishops  appointed  by 
the  patriarch  of  Antioch.  '  We,'  said  they,  '  are  of 
the  true  faith,  whatever  you  from  the  west  may  be ; 
for  we  come  from  the  place  where  the  followers 
of  Christ  were  first  called  christians.' 

"  When  the  power  of  the  Portuguese  became 
sufficient  for  their  purpose,  they  invaded  these 
tranquil  churches,  seized  some  of  the  clergy,  and 
devoted  them  to  the  death  of  heretics.  Then  the 
inhabitants  heard  for  the  first  time  that  there  was  a 
place  called  the  inquisition  ;  and  that  its  fires  had 
been  lately  lighted  at  Goa,  near  their  own  land. 
But  the  Portuguese,  finding  that  the  people  were 
resolute  in  defending  their  ancient  faith,  began  to 
try  more  conciliatory  measures.  They  seized  the 
Syrian  bishop  Mar  Joseph  and  sent  him  prisoner 
to  Lisbon  :  and  then  convened  a  synod  at  one  of  the 
Syrian  churches  called  Diamper,  near  Cochin,  at 
which  the  Romish  archbishop  Menezes  presided. 
At  this  compulsory  synod  one  hundred  and  fifty 
of  the  Syrian  clergy  appeared.  They  were  accused 
of  the  following  practices  and  opinions  :  *  That  they 
had  married  wives  ;  that  they  owned  hut  two  sacra- 
ments, baptism  and  the  hordes  supper;  that  they 
neither  invoiced  sai?its,  nor  worshipped  images,  no? 


CIIRISTI.W    RESEARCHES.  3C7 

believed  in  jmrgatury  :  and  that  they  had  no  other 
orders  or  names  of  dignity  in  the  church  than  bi>liop, 
priest,  and  deacon.'  These  tenets  they  were  called 
on  to  abjure,  or  to  suffer  suspension  from  all  church 
benefices.  It  was  also  decreed  that  all  the  Syrian 
books  on  ecclesiastical  subjects  that  could  be  found 
should  be  burned ;  '  in  order,'  said  the  inquisitors, 
'  that  no  pretended  apostolical  monuments  maij  re- 
main.^ 

"  The  churches  on  the  sea-coast  were  thus  com- 
pelled to  acknowledge  the  supremacy  of  the  pope  : 
but  they  refused  to  pray  in  Latin,  and  insisted  on 
retaining  their  own  language  and  liturgy.  This 
point  they  said  they  would  only  give  up  with  their 
lives.  The  pope  compromised  with  them  :  Menezes 
purged  their  liturgy  of  its  errors  :  and  they  retain 
their  Syriac  language,  and  have  a  Syriac  college 
unto  this  day.  These  are  called  the  Syro-Romaii 
churches,  and  are  principally  situated  on  the  sea- 
coast. 

"  The  churches  in  the  interior  would  not  yield 
to  Rome.  After  a  show  of  submission  for  a  little 
while,  they  proclaimed  eternal  war  against  the  in- 
quisition ;  they  hid  their  books,  fled  occasionally  to 
the  mountains,  and  sought  the  protection  of  the 
native  princes,  who  had  always  been  proud  of  their 
alliance. 

"  Two  centuries  had  elapsed  without  any  parti- 
cular information  concerning  the  Syriau  christiarj3 


303  MEMOIR    OF   DR.    BUCHANAN. 

in  the  interior  of  India.  It  was  doubted  by  many 
whether  they  existed  at  all ;  but  if  they  did  exist, 
it  was  thought  probable  that  they  must  possess  some 
interesting  documents  of  christian  antiquity.  The 
author  conceived  the  design  of  visiting  them,  if  prac- 
ticable, in  his  tour  through  Hindostan.  He  pre- 
sented a  short  memoir  on  the  subject  in  1805,  to 
Marquis  Wellesley,  then  Governor  General  of  In- 
dia ;  who  was  pleased  to  give  orders  that  every  fa- 
cility should  be  afforded  to  him  in  the  prosecution 
of  his  inquiries.  About  a  year  after  that  nobleman 
had  left  India,  the  author  proceeded  on  his  tour.  It 
was  necessary  that  he  should  visit  first  the  court 
of  the  rajah  of  Travancore,  in  whose  dominions  the 
Syrian  christians  resided,  that  he  might  obtain  per- 
mission to  pass  to  their  country.  The  two  chief  ob- 
jects which  he  proposed  to  himself  in  exploring  the 
state  of  this  ancient  people  were  these  :  First,  to 
investigate  their  literature  and  history,  and  to  col- 
lect biblical  manuscripts.  Secondly,  if  he  should 
find  them  to  be  an  intelligent  people,  and  well  ac- 
quainted with  the  Syriac  Scriptures,  to  endeavor 
to  make  them  instruments  of  illuminating  the 
southern  part  of  India,  by  engaging  them  in  trans- 
lating their  Scriptures  into  the  native  languages. 
He  had  reason  to  believe  that  this  had  not  yet  been 
done ;  and  he  was  prepared  not  to  wonder  at  the 
delay,  by  the  reflection  how  long  it  was  before  his 
own  countrymen  began  to  think  it  their  duty  to 


CHRISTIAN    RESEAIlCIirS.  ',]()0 

make  versions  of  the  Scriptures  lor  the  use  of  other 
nations. 

"  Palace  of  Travancore,  Oct.  19,  180C. 
"  I  have  been  now  a  week  at  the  palace  of  Tri- 
vanduram,  where  the  rajah  resides.  A  letter  of  in- 
troduction from  Lieut.  Colonel  Macaulay,  the  Bri- 
tish resident  at  Travancore,  procured  me  a  proper 
reception.  At  my  first  audience  his  highness  was 
very  inquisitive  as  to  the  objects  of  my  journey. 
As  I  had  servants  with  me  of  different  casts  and 
languages,  it  was  very  easy  for  the  Brahmins  to 
discover  every  particular  they  might  wish  to  know 
in  regard  to  my  profession,  pursuits,  and  manner 
of  life.  When  I  told  the  rajah  that  the  Syrian  chris- 
tians were  supposed  to  be  of  the  same  religion 
with  the  English,  he  said  he  thought  that  could  not 
be  the  case,  else  he  must  have  heard  it  before  ;  if 
however  it  was  so,  he  considered  my  desire  to  visit 
them  as  being  very  reasonable.  I  assured  his  high- 
ness that  their  Shaster  and  ours  was  the  same,  and 
showed  him  a  Syriac  New  Testament  which  I  had 
at  hand.  The  book  being  bound  and  gilt  after  the 
European  manner,  the  rajah  shook  his  head  and 
said  he  was  sure  there  was  not  a  native  in  his  do- 
minions who  could  read  that  book.  I  observed  that 
this  would  be  proved  in  a  few  days.  The  dewan 
(or  prime  minister)  thought  the  character  something 
like  what  he  had  seen  sometimes  in  the  houses  of 


310  MEMOIR    OP   DR.    BUCHANAN. 

the  Sooriani.  The  rajah  said  he  would  afford  me 
every  faciHty  for  my  journey  m  his  power.  He  put 
an  emerald  ring  on  my  linger,  as  a  mark  of  his 
friendship,  and  to  secure  me  respect  in  passing 
through  his  country  ;  and  he  directed  his  dewan  to 
send  proper  persons  with  me  as  guides. 

"  I  requested  that  the  rajah  would  be  pleased  to 
present  a  catalogue  of  all  the  Hindoo  manuscripts 
in  the  temples  of  Travancore  to  the  college  of  Fort 
William  in  Bengal.  The  Brahmins  were  very  averse 
to  this;  but  when  I  showed  the  rajah  the  cata- 
logues of  the  books  in  the  temples  of  Tanjore, 
given  by  the  rajah  of  Tanjore,  and  those  of  the 
temple  of  Ramisseram,  given  me  by  order  of  the 
rannie  (or  queen)  of  Ramnad ;  he  desired  it  might 
be  done  :  and  orders  have  been  sent  to  the  Hindoo 
college  of  Trichoor  for  that  purpose."* 

"  Chinganoor,  a  Church  of  the  Syrian 

Christians,  Nov.  10,  1806. 

"  From  the  palace  of  Travancore  I  proceeded 
to  Mavely-car,  and  thence  to  the  hills  at  the  bottom 
of  the  his^h  grhauts  which  divide  the  Carnatic  from 
Malay-ala.  The  face  of  the  country  in  general,  in 
the  vicinity  of  the   mountains,  exhibits  a  varied 

*  These  three  catalogues,  together  with  that  of  the  rajah 
of  Cochin,  which  the  author  procured  afterwards,  are  now 
deposited  in  the  college  of  Fori  William,  and  probably 
contain  all  the  Hindoo  literature  of  the  south  of  India. 


CHRISTIAN    RLS£.iRCHES.  311 

Bcene  of  liill  and  dale  and  winding  streams.  These 
streams  fall  from  the  mountains  and  preserve  the 
vallies  in  perpetual  verdure.  The  woods  produce 
pepper,  cardamoms,  and  cassia,  or  common  cinna- 
mon ;  also  frankincense  and  other  aromatic  gums. 
What  adds  much  to  the  grandeur  of  the  scenery  in 
this  country  is,  that  the  adjacent  mountains  of  Tra- 
vancore  are  not  barren,  but  covered  w^ith  forests  of 
teak  wood — the  Indian  oak,  producing,  it  is  said, 
the  largest  timber  in  the  world. 

"  The  first  view  of  the  christian  churches  in  this 
sequestered  region  of  Hindostan,  coimected  with 
the  idea  of  their  tranquil  duration  for  so  many 
ages,  cannot  fail  to  excite  pleasing  emotions  in  the 
mind  of  the  beholder.  The  form  of  the  oldest 
buildings  is  not  unlike  that  of  some  of  the  old  pa- 
rish churches  in  England  ;  the  style  of  building  in 
both  being  of  Saracenic  origin.  They  have  sloping 
roofs,  pointed  arch  windows,  and  buttresses  sup- 
porting the  walls.  The  beam.s  of  the  roof  being 
exposed  to  view  are  ornamented,  and  the  ceiling 
of  the  choir  and  altar  is  circular  and  fretted.  In  the 
cathedial  churches  the  shrines  of  the  deceased  bi- 
shops are  placed  on  each  side  of  the  altar.  Most 
of  the  churches  are  built  of  a  reddish  stone,  squar- 
ed and  polished  at  the  quarry  ;  and  are  of  durable 
construction,  the  front  wall  of  the  largest  edifices 
being  six  feet  thick.  The  bells  of  the  churches  are 
cast  iu  the  founderics  of  the  countrv  r  some  of 


312  MEMOIR    OF    Dll.    BUCHANAN'. 

them  arc  of  large  dimensions,  and  have  inscriptions 
in  Syriac  and  Malay-alim.  In  approaching  a  towii 
in  the  evening,  I  once  heard  the  sound  of  the  bells 
among  the  hills;  a  circumstance  which  made  me 
forget  for  a  moment  that  I  was  in  Hindostan,  and 
reminded  me  of  another  country. 

"  The  first  Syrian  church  which  I  saw  was  at 
Mavely-car :  but  the  Syrians  here  are  in  the  vici- 
nity of  the  Romish  christians,  and  are  not  so  sim- 
ple in  their  manners  as  those  nearer  the  mountains. 
Tliey  had  been  often  visited  by  Romish  emissaries 
in  former  times  :  and  they  at  lirst  suspected  that  I 
belonged  to  that  communion.  They  had  heard  of 
the  English,  but  strangely  supposed  that  they  be- 
longed to  the  church  of  the  pope  in  the  west. 
They  had  been  so  little  accustomed  to  see  a  friend, 
that  they  could  not  believe  that  I  was  come  with 
any  friendly  purpose.  Added  to  this,  1  had  some 
discussions  with  a  most  intelligent  priest  in  regard 
to  the  original  language  of  the  four  Gospels,  which 
he  maintained  to  be  Syriac;  and  they  suspected, 
fiom  the  complexion  of  my  argument,  that  I  wish- 
ed to  weaken  the  evidences  for  their  antiquity.* 

*  '  You  concede,'  said  the  Syrian,  '  that  our  Saviour  spoke 
in  our  language  ;  how  do  you  know  it^'  From  Syriac  ex- 
pressions in  the  Greek  Gospels.  It  appears  that  he  spoke 
Syriac  when  he  walked  by  the  way  (Ephphatha,)  and  -when 
he  sat  in  the  house  (Talitha  Cumi,)  and  when  he  was  upon 
the  cross  (Eli,  Eli,  lama  sabachthani.)  The  Syrians  were 
pleased  when  they  heard  that  we  had  got  their  language  in 


CHRISTIAN    RKSfLirXIIES.  313 

Soon  however  the  gluom  and  suspicion  siibsiJed  ; 
they  gave  ine  tlie  right  hand  of  fellowship  in  the 
primitive  manner ;  and  one  of  their  number  was 

ourEngHsh  books.  The  priest  observed  that  these  last  tvere 
not  the  exact  words,  but  'Ail,  Ail,  himono  sabachthani.'  T 
answered  that  the  word  must  hav^e  been  very  like  Eli,  fur 
one  said, '  He  calleth  for  Elian.''  '•  True,'  said  he,  '  but  yet  it 
■vvas  more  likely  to  be  yli7,  Ail,  (pronounced  II  or  Eel,)  lor 
//iZ,  or  Uila,  i.s  old  Syriac  for  vinegar ;  and  one  thought  he 
-wanted  vinegar,  and  filled  immediately  a  sponge  with  it. 
Bui  our  Saviour  did  not  want  the  medicated  drink  as  they 
supposed.  But,'  added  he,  •  if  the  parables  and  discourses  of 
our  Lord  were  in  Syriac,  and  the  people  of  Jerusalem  com- 
monly used  it,  is  it  not  marvellous  that  his  disciples  did  not 
record  his  parables  in  the  Syriac  language,  and  that  they 
should  have  recourse  to  the  Greek  V  I  observed  that  the 
Gospel  was  for  the  world,  and  the  Greek  was  then  the  uni- 
versal language,  and  therefore  Providence  selected  it.  '  It 
is  very  probable,'  said  he, '  that  the  Gospels  were  translated 
immediately  afterwards  into  Greek,  as  into  other  langua- 
ges;  but  surely  there  must  have  been  a  Syriac  original. 
The  poor  people  in  Jerusalem  could  not  read  Greek.  Had 
they  no  record  in  their  hands  of  Christ's  parables  which 
they  had  heard,  and  of  his  sublime  discourses  recorded  by 
St.  John  after  his  ascension  V  I  acknowledged  that  it  was 
generally  believed  by  the  learned  that  the  Gospel  of  St. 
Matthew  was  written  originally  in  Syriac.  '  So  you  admit 
St.  Matthew  7  You  may  as  well  admit  St.  John.  Or  was  one 
Gospel  enough  for  the  inhabitants  of  Jerusalem  %  I  con- 
tended that  there  were  many  Greek  and  Roman  words  in 
their  own  Syriac  Gospels.  '  True,'  said  he,  '  Roman  words 
for  Roman  things.'  They  wished,  however,  to  see  some  of 
these  words.  The  discussion  afterwards,  particularly  in  re- 
ference to  the  Gospel  of  St.  Luke,  was  more  in  my  favor, 

Buchanan.  *• 


k 


314  MEMOIR    OF    DR.    BUCHANAN. 

deputed  to  accompany  me  to  the  churches  in  the 
interior. 

''  When  we  were  approaching  the  church  of 
Chinganoor,  we  met  one  of  the  cassanars,  or  Syrian 
clergy.  He  was  dressed  in  a  white  loose  vestment 
with  a  cap  of  red  silk  hanging  down  behind.  Be- 
ing informed  who  he  was,  I  said  to  him  in  the  Sy- 
riac  language,  '  Peace  be  unto  you.'  He  was  sur- 
prised at  the  salutation ;  but  immediately  answered, 
'  The  God  of  peace  be  with  you.'  He  accosted  the 
rajah's  servants  in  the  language  of  the  country  to 
know  who  I  was ;  and  immediately  returned  to  the 
village  to  announce  our  approach.  When  we  ar- 
rived I  was  received  at  the  door  of  the  church  by 
three  kasheeshas,  that  is  presbyters,  or  priests,  who 
were  habited  in  like  manner  in  white  vestments. 
Their  names  were  Jesu,  Zecharias,  and  Urias, 
which  they  wrote  down  in  my  journal,  each  of 
them  adding  to  his  name  the  title  of  kasheesha. 
There  were  also  present  two  shumsJianas,  or  dea- 
cons. The  elder  priest  was  a  very  intelligent  man, 
of  reverend  appearance,  having  a  long  white  beard, 
and  of  an  affable  and  engaging  deportment.  The 
three  principal  christians  or  lay  elders  belonging 
to  the  church  were  named  Abraham,  Thomas,  and 
Alexandros.  After  some  conversation  with  my  at- 
tendants they  received  me  with  confidence  and  af- 
fection ;  and  the  people  of  the  neighboring  villages 
came  round,  women  as  well  as  men. 


CIIRISTI;VN    RESEARCHES.  315 

"  The  slc^ht  of  the  women  assured  me  tliat  I  was 

o 

once  more  (after  a  long  absence  from  England)  in 
a  christian  country.  For  the  Hindoo  women,  and 
the  Mohammedan  women,  and  in  short  all  women 
who  are  not  christians,  are  accounted  by  the  men 
an  inferior  race ;  and,  in  general,  are  confined  to 
the  house  for  life,  like  irrational  creatures.  In  every 
countenance  now  before  me  I  thought -I  could  dis- 
cover the  intelligence  of  Christianity.  But  at  the 
same  time  I  perceived,  all  around,  symptoms  of 
poverty  and  political  depression.  In  the  churches 
and  in  the  people  there  was  the  air  of  fallen  great- 
ness. I  said  to  the  senior  priest,  '  You  appear  to 
me  like  a  people  who  have  known  better  days.' 
*  It  is  even  so,*  said  he  ;  *  we  are  in  a  degenerate 
state  compared  with  our  forefathers.'  He  noticed 
that  there  were  two  causes  of  their  present  decay. 
'  About  three  hundred  years  ago  an  enemy  came 
from  the  west  bearing  the  name  of  Christ,  but 
armed  with  the  inquisition,  and  compelled  us  to 
seek  the  protection  of  the  native  princes.  And  the 
native  princes  have  kept  us  in  a  state  of  depression 
ever  since.  They  indeed  recognize  our  ancient 
personal  privileges,  for  we  rank  in  general  next  to 
the  nairs,  the  nobility  of  the  country  ;  but  they  have 
encroached  by  degrees  on  our  property,  till  we 
have  been  reduced  to  the  humble  state  in  which 
you  find  us.  The  glory  of  our  church  has  passed 
away ;  but  we  hope  your  nation  will  revive  it  again.* 


516  MEMOIR.   OF    DR.    BUCHANAN. 

"  I  observed  that  '  the  glory  of  a  cliurcli  could 
never  die,  if  it  preserved  the  Bible.'  '  We  have 
preserved  the  Bible/  said  he  ;  '  the  Hindoo  princes 
never  touched  our  liberty  of  conscience.  We  were 
formerly  on  a  footing  with  them  in  political  power ; 
and  they  respect  our  religion.  We  have  also  con- 
verts from  time  to  time ;  but  in  this  christian  duty 
we  are  not  so  active  as  we  once  were  :  besides,  it  is 
not  so  creditable  now  to  become  christian  in  our 
low  estate.'  He  then  pointed  out  to  me  a  Nam- 
boory  Brahmin,  (that  is,  a  Brahmin  of  the  highest 
cast,)  who  had  lately  become  a  chiistian,  and  as- 
sumed the  white  vestment  of  a  Syrian  priest.  '  The 
learning  too  of  the  Bible,'  he  added,  *  is  in  a  low 
state  amongst  us.  Our  copies  are  few  in  number, 
and  that  number  is  diminishing  instead  f)f  increas- 
ing ;  and  the  writing  out  a  whole  copy  of  the  sacred 
Scriptures  is  a  great  labor  where  there  is  no  profit 
and  little  piety.'  I  then  produced  a  printed  copy 
of  the  Syriac  New  Testament.  There  was  not  one 
of  them  who  had  ever  seen  a  printed  copy  before. 
They  admired  it  much  ;  and  every  priest,  as  it  came 
into  his  hands,  began  to  read  a  portion,  which  he 
did  fluently,  while  the  women  came  around  to  hear. 
I  asked  the  old  priest  whether  I  should  send  them 
some  copies  from  Europe.  '  They  would  be  worth 
their  weight  in  silver,'  said  he.  He  asked  me  whe- 
ther the  Old  Testament  was  printed  in  Syriac  as 
well  as  the  New.    I  told  him  it  was,  but  1  had  not 


CHRISTIAN    RESEARCHES.  317 

a  copy.  They  professed  an  earnest  desire  to  obtain 
some  copies  of  the  whole  Syriac  Bible,  and  asked 
whether  it  would  be  practicable  to  obtain  one  copy 
for  every  church.  '  I  must  confess  to  you,'  said 
Zecharias,  '  that  we  have  very  few  copies  of  the 
prophetical  Scriptures  in  the  church.  Our  church 
languishes  for  want  of  the  Scriptures.'  But  he  add- 
ed, '  the  language  that  is  most  in  use  among  the 
people  is  the  Malayalim,  (or  Malabar,)  the  verna- 
cular language  of  the  country.  The  Syriac  is  now 
only  the  learned  language  and  the  language  of  the 
church  :  but  we  generally  expound  the  Scriptures 
to  the  people  in  the  vernacular  tongue.' 

"  I  then  entered  on  the  subject  of  the  transla- 
tion of  the  Scrijytia'cs.  He  said  '  a  version  could 
be  made  with  critical  accuracy ;  for  there  were 
many  of  the  Syrian  clergy  who  were  perfect  mas- 
ters of  both  languages,  having  spoken  them  from 
their  infancy.  '  But,'  said  he,  '  our  bishop  will  re- 
joice to  see  you,  and  to  discourse  with  you  on  this 
and  other  subjects.'  I  told  them  that  if  a  transla- 
tion could  be  prepared,  I  should  be  able  to  get  it 
printed,  and  distribute  copies  among  their  fifty-five 
churches  at  a  small  price.  '  That  indeed  would  give 
joy,'  said  old  Abraham.  There  was  here  a  murmur 
of  satisfaction  among  the  people.  If  I  understand 
you  right,  said  I,  the  greatest  blessing  the  English 
church  can  bestow  upon  you  is  the  Bible.  '  It  is 
so,'  said  he.  '  And  what  is  the  next  greatest  V  said  I. 
27* 


318  MEMOIR   OF    DR.    BUCHANAN. 

'  Some  freedom  and  personal  consequence  as  a 
people  :'  by  which  he  meant  political  liberty.  '  We 
are  here  in  bondage  like  Israel  in  Egypt.'  I  ob- 
served that  the  English  nation  would  doubtless  re- 
cognize a  nation  of  fellow-christians,  and  would  be 
happy  to  interest  itself  in  their  behalf  as  far  as  our 
political  relation  with  the  prince  of  the  country 
would  permit.  They  wished  to  know  what  were 
the  principles  of  the  English  government,  civil  and 
religious.  I  answered  that  our  government  might 
be  said  to  be  founded  generally  on  the  principles 
of  the  Bible.  'Ah,'  said  old  Zecharias,  '  that  must 
be  a  glorious  government  which  is  founded  on  the 
principles  of  the  Bible.'  The  priests  then  desired 
I  would  give  them  some  account  of  the  history  of 
the  English  nation,  and  of  our  secession  from  their 
enemy  the  church  of  Rome.  And  in  return  I  re- 
quested they  would  give  me  some  account  of  their 
history. 

"  My  communications  with  the  Syrians  are  ren- 
dered very  easy,  by  means  of  an  interpreter  whom 
I  brought  with  me  all  the  way  from  the  Tanjore 
country.  He  is  a  Hindoo  by  descent,  but  is  an  in- 
telligent christian,  and  was  a  pupil  and  catechist 
of  the  lale  Mr.  Swartz.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Kohloff"  re- 
commended him  to  me.  He  formerly  lived  in  Tra- 
vancore,  and  is  well  acquainted  with  the  vernacu- 
lar tongue.  He  also  reads  and  writes  English  very 
well,  and  is  as  mucli  interested  in  favor  of  the  Sy- 


CHRISTIAN    RrSEAltCIlES.  319 

rian  christians  as  I  myself.  Besides  Mr.  Swartz's  ca- 
techist,  there  are  two  natives  of  Travancore  here, 
who  speak  the  Hindostanee  language,  which  is  fa- 
miliar to  me.  My  knowledge  of  the  Syriac  is  suffi- 
cient to  refer  to  texts  of  Scripture  ;  but  I  do  not 
well  understand  the  pronunciation  of  the  Syrians. 
1  hope  to  be  better  acquainted  with  their  language 
before  I  leave  the  country." 

"  Rannhel,  a  Syrian  Church,  Nov.  12,  1806; 
"  This  church  is  built  upon  a  rocky  hill  on  the 
banks  of  the  river,  and  is  the  most  remote  of  all 
the  churches  in  this  quarter.  The  two  kasheeshas 
here  are  Lucas  and  Mattai  (Luke  and  Matthew.) 
The  chief  lay  members  are  Abraham,  Georgius, 
Thoma,  and  Philippus.  Some  of  the  priests  accom- 
pany me  from  church  to  church.  I  have  now  visit- 
ed eight  churches,  and  scarcely  believe  sometimes 
that  I  am  in  the  land  of  the  Hindoos,  only  that  I 
now  and  then  see  a  Hindoo  temple  on  the  banks 
of  the  river.  I  observed  that  the  bells  of  most  of 
the  churches  were  within  the  building,  and  not  in 
a  tower.  The  reason  they  said  was  this.  When  a 
Hindoo  temple  happens  to  be  near  a  church,  the 
Hindoos  do  not  like  the  bell  to  sound  loud,  for  they 
say  it  frightens  their  god.  I  perceive  that  the  Syri- 
an christians  assimilate  much  to  the  Hindoos  in  the 
practice  of  frequent  ablutions  for  health  and  clean- 
liness, and  in  the  use  of  vegetables  and  light  food 


320  MEMOIR    OF    DE.    BUCHANAN. 

*'  I  attended  divine  service  on  Lord's  day.  Their 
liturgy  is  that  which  was  formerly  used  in  the 
churches  of  the  patriarch  of  Antioch.  During  the 
prayers  there  were  intervals  of  silence ;  the  priest 
praying  in  a  low  voice,  and  every  man  praying  for 
himself  These  silent  intervals  add  much  to  the  so- 
lemnity and  appearance  of  devotion.  They  use  in- 
cense in  the  churches ;  it  grows  in  the  woods 
around  them  ;  and  contributes  much,  they  say,  to 
health,  and  to  the  warmth  and  comfort  of  the  church 
during  the  cold  and  rainy  season  of  the  year.  At 
the  conclusion  of  the  service  a  ceremony  takes 
place  which  pleased  me  much.  The  priest  (or  bi- 
shop, if  he  be  present)  comes  forward,  and  all  the 
people  pass  by  him  as  they  go  out,  receiving  his 
benediction  individually.  If  any  man  has  been 
guilty  of  any  immorality,  he  does  not  receive  the 
blessing ;  and  this,  in  their  primitive  and  patri- 
archal state,  is  accounted  a  severe  punishment.  In- 
struction by  preaching  is  little  in  use  among  them 
now.  Many  of  the  old  men  lamented  the  decay  of 
piety  and  religious  knowledge,  and  spoke  with 
pleasure  of  the  record  of  ancient  times.  They  have 
some  ceremonies  nearly  allied  to  those  of  the 
Greek  church. 

"  The  doctrines  of  the  Syrian  christians  are  few 
in  number,  but  pure,  and  agree  in  essential  points 
with  those  of  the  church  of  England  :  so  that,  al- 
though the  body  of  the  church  appears  to  be  igno- 


CHRISTIAN    RESEARCHES.  521 

rant,  ami  furmal,  and  dead,  there  are  individuals 
\vho  are  alive  to  righteousness,  who  are  distinguish- 
ed from  the  rest  by  their  purity  of  life,  and  are 
sometimes  censured  for  too  rigid  a  piety. 

*'  Tlie  following  are  the  chief  doctrines  of  this 
ancient  church  : 

''  1.  They  hold  the  doctrine  of  a  vicarious  atone- 
ment for  the  sins  of  men  by  the  blood  and  merits 
of  Christ,  and  of  the  justification  of  the  soul  before 
God  '  by  faith  alone'  in  that  atonement. 

"  2.  They  maintain  the  regeneration,  or  new  birth 
of  the  soul  to  righteousness,  by  the  influence  of  the 
Spirit  of  God,  which  change  is  called  in  their  books, 
from  the  Greek,  the  metanoia,  or  change  of  mind. 

"  3.  In  regard  to  the  trinity,  the  creed  of  the  Sy- 
rian christians  accords  with  that  of  St.  Athanasius, 
but  without  the  damnatory  clause.  In  a  written 
and  official  communication  to  the  English  resident 
of  Travancore,  the  metropolitan  states  it  to  be  as 
follows  : 

'^  We  believe  in  the  Father,  Son,  and  Holy 
Ghost,  three  persons  in  one  God,  neither  confound- 
ing the  persons  nor  dividing  the  substance,  one  in 
three,  and  three  in  one.  The  Father  generator,  the 
Son  generated,  and  the  Holy  Ghost  proceeding. 
None  is  before  or  after  the  other;  in  majesty,  ho- 
nor, might,  and  power,  co-equal ;  unity  in  trinity, 
and  trinity  in  unity.'  He  then  proceeds  to  disclaiui 
the   different  errors  of  Arius,   Sabellius,  Macedo- 


322  MEMOIR    OF    DR.    BUCHANAN. 

nius,  Manes,  Marcianus,  Julianus,  Nestoriu3,  and 
the  Chalcedonians ;  and  concludes,  '  That  in  the 
appointed  time,  through  the  disposition  of  the  Fa- 
ther and  the  Holy  Ghost,  the  Son  appeared  on 
earth  for  the  salvation  of  mankind ;  that  he  was 
born  of  the  Virgin  Mary,  through  the  means  of  the 
Holy  Ghost,  and  was  incarnate  God  and  man.* 

'*  In  every  church,  and  in  many  of  the  private 
houses,  there  are  manuscripts  in  the  Syriac  lan- 
guage :  and  I  have  been  successful  in  procuring 
some  old  and  valuable  copies  of  the  Scriptures  and 
other  books,  written  in  different  ages  and  in  dif- 
ferent characters." 

"  Cande-nad,  a  church  of  the  Syrian  christians, 
November  23,  1806. 

"  This  is  the  residence  of  Mar  Dionysius,  the 
metropolitan  of  the  Syrian  church.  A  great  num- 
ber of  the  priests  from  the  other  churches  had  as- 
sembled, by  desire  of  the  bishop,  before  my  arrival. 
The  bishop  resides  in  a  building  attached  to  the 
church.  I  was  much  struck  with  his  first  appear- 
ance. He  was  dressed  in  a  vestment  of  dark  red 
silk ;  a  large  golden  cross  hung  from  his  neck,  and 
his  venerable  beard  reached  below  his  girdle.  Such, 
thought  I,  was  the  appearance  of  Chrysostom  in 
the  fourth  century.  On  public  occasions  he  wears 
the  episcopal  mitre,  and  a  muslin  robe  is  thrown 
over  his  under-garment ;  and  in  his  hand  he  bears 


CllttlaTlAN    HESEARCUES.  323 

the  crosier,  or  pastoral  staiT.  He  is  a  man  of  high- 
ly respectable  character  in  his  church,  eminent  for 
his  piety,  and  for  the  attention  he  devotes  to  his 
sacred  functions.  I  found  him  to  be  far  superior  in 
general  learning  to  any  of  his  clergy  whom  I  had 
yet  seen.  He  told  me  that  all  my  conversations 
with  his  priests  since  my  arrival  in  the  country  had 
been  communicated  to  him.  '  You  have  come,'  said 
he,  '  to  visit  a  declining  church,  and  I  am  now  an 
old  man  :  but  the  hope  of  its  seeing  belter  days 
cheers  my  old  age,  though  I  may  not  live  to  see 
them.*  I  submitted  to  the  bishop  my  wishes  in  re- 
gard to  the  translation  and  printing  of  the  Holy 
Scriptures.  '  I  have  already  fully  considered  the 
subject,'  said  he,  '  and  have  determined  to  super- 
intend the  work  myself,  and  to  call  the  most  learn- 
ed of  my  clergy  to  my  aid.  It  is  a  work  which  will 
illuminate  these  dark  regions,  and  God  will  give 
it  his  blessing.'  I  was  much  pleased  when  I  heard 
this  pious  resolution  of  the  venerable  man  ;  for  I 
had  now  ascertained  that  there  are  upwards  of 
200,000  christians  in  the  south  of  India,  besides 
the  Syrians,  who  speak  the  Malabar  language.  The 
next  subject  of  importance  in  my  mind  was  the 
collection  of  useful  manuscripts  in  the  Chaldaic 
and  Syriac  languages ;  and  the  bishop  was  pleased 
to  say  that  he  would  assist  my  inquiries  and  add  to 
my  collection.  He  descanted  with  great  satisfac- 
tion on  the  hope  of  seeing  printed  Syriac  Bibles 


324  MEMOIR    OP    DK.    EUCUANAN- 

from  England,  and  said  they  would  be  '  a  treasure 
to  his  church.'  " 

Of  the  preceding  account  of  Dr.  Buchanan's  first 
visit  to  the  coast  of  Malabar,  the  following  letter 
to  Mr.  Henry  Thornton  comprises  a  brief  but  ani- 
mated sketch,  which,  notwithstanding  the  repeti- 
tion of  a  few  particulars,  will  not,  it  is  presumed, 
prove  uninteresting  to  any  : 

"  Cochin,  December  24,  1806. 

"  Dear  Sir, — In  August  or  September  last  I  ad- 
dressed a  letter  to  you  from  the  pagoda  of  Sering- 
ham,  near  Tritchinopoli.  Since  that  period  I  have 
visited  Ceylon,  and.  many  places  in  southern  Coro- 
mandel  and  in  the  province  of  Malabar.  I  passed 
a  week  at  the  palace  of  the  rajah  of  Travancore, 
who  aids  me  very  liberally  in  all  my  pursuits.  The 
Brahmins  and  present  minister  had  taught  the 
young  man  (he  is  only  twenty-five)  to  oppress  the 
christians.  But  he  promises  milder  treatment  in 
future.  This  favorable  change  is  produced  by  the 
exertions  of  Colonel  Macaulay,  the  resident,  who, 
I  am  happy  to  say,  is  much  alive  to  the  interests 
of  religion. 

"  From  the  sea-coast  I  proceeded  into  the  inte- 
rior of  the  country,  to  visit  the  ancient  Syrian  chris- 
tians who  inhabit  the  hills  at  the  bottom  of  the  great 
mountains  of  Malayala.  The  weather  was  cool  and 


CHRISTIAN    RESEARCHES.  325 

pleasant.  The  country  is  picturesque  and  highly 
cultivated,  diversified  with  hill  and  dale  and  wind- 
insf  streams.  These  streams  fall  from  the  moun- 
tains,  and  preserve  the  vallies  in  perpetual  verdure. 
The  christians  received  me  courteousl}',  seeing  I 
travelled  in  some  state,  escorted  by  the  rajah*s  ser- 
vants* But  when  they  found  my  object  was  to  look 
into  their  books  and  religion,  they  surveyed  me 
with  doubtful  countenance,  not  well  understanding 
how  an  Englishman  could  have  any  interest  in  the 
christian  religion.  And  the  contrary  was  only  prov- 
ed to  them  by  long  and  serious  discussion,  and  by 
the  evidence  of  facts  which  for  the  first  time  came 
to  their  knowledge.  But  when  their  doubts  had 
been  dispelled,  they  sent  deputies  with  me,  who 
introduced  me  to  all  the  other  churches.  No  Eu- 
ropean, or  even  Romish  priest,  had  ever,  as  they 
told  me,  visited  that  remote  region.  There  are  no 
Romish  churches  in  its  vicinity,  and  the  rajah  gives 
no  permission  to  Europeans  to  travel  into  the  in- 
terior of  his  country. 

"  The  Syrian  is  still  their  sacred  language,  and 
some  of  the  laymen  understand  it;  but  the  Malay- 
alim  is  the  vulgar  tongue.  I  proposed  to  send  a 
Malayalim  translation  of  the  Bible  to  each  of  the 
churches ;  and  they  assured  me  that  every  man 
who  could  wiite  would  be  glad  to  make  a  copy  for 
his  own  family.  They  also  tigreed  to  establish 
schools  in   each  paiish  for  christian   instruction, 

Bychauan.  *^ 


326  MEMOIR    OF    DR.    BUCHANAN. 

which  are  to  be  under  the  direction  of  the  four 
chief  elders  of  each  parish,  and  in  which  the  Bible 
in  the  vulgar  tongue  is  to  be  a  principal  class-book. 

''  Their  doctrines  are  not,  in  essentials,  at  vari- 
ance with  those  of  the  church  of  England.  They 
desire  an  union,  or  at  least  such  a  connection  ag 
may  be  practicable  or  desirable  for  the  better  ad- 
vancement of  the  interests  of  Christianity  in  India, 

"  As  to  manuscripts,  I  have  succeeded  far  be- 
yond my  most  sanguine  expectations. 

"  It  had  been  supposed  that  the  Roman  Catholics 
had  destroyed  in  1599  all  the  Syrian  books.  But  it 
appears  that  they  did  not  destroy  one  copy  of  the 
Bible;  and  I  have  now  in  my  possession  some  MSS. 
of  the  Scriptures  of  a  high  antiquity.  The  collation 
of  these  with  our  western  copies  is  very  interest- 
ing. There  are  some  other  MSS.  which  were  not 
condemned  by  the  synod  of  Menezes.  I  have  also 
found  some  old  Hebrew  MSS.  biblical  and  hisr 
torical. 

"  It  is  sufficiently  established  by  the  concurrence 
of  oral  tradition  with  written  records,  that  the  Jews 
were  on  this  coast  before  the  christian  era. 

"  I  propose  to  send  home  some  Syrian  youth  ta 
England  for  education  and  ordination,  if  practica- 
ble. And  I  take  with  me  to  Bengal  a  Malayalim,  a 
Syrian,  and  a  Jewish  servant.  They  will,  however, 
be  but  nominal  servants.  I  should  have  engaged 
them  as  rqqonshces ;  but  I  see  there  is  no  college 
now  in  Bengral. 


CllRISTfAM    ftESEARCHES.  327 

"  The  Roman  Catholics  here  were  at  first  very 
jealous  of  my  attention  to  the  Syrians.  The  Romish 
bishop,  however,  who  is  a  hurt  vivant*  perceiving 
that  my  chief  object  was  to  diffuse  the  Scriptures 
among  the  people,  began  to  think  that  it  might  be 
politic  in  him  to  circulate  thern  among  his  people 
too,  and  to  please  the  English  rather  than  the  in- 
cj^uisition.  Colonel  Malcaulay  thinks  the  bishop  will 
adopt  the  measure  the  moment  we  seriously  pro- 
pose it.  He  lives  in  some  state,  and  fires  a  salute 
of  eleven  guns  on  occasion. 

"  Cochin  is  rich  in  Hebrew  literature,  and  I  am 
purchasing  what  is  to  be  sold. 

"  The  rajah  of  Cochin  has  followed  the  example 
of  the  rajahs  of  Travancore,  of  Tanjore,  and  the 
ranny  of  Ramnad,  and  Ramisseram,  in  giving  me 
catalogues  of  the  Shanscrit  books  in  the  temples.  I 
hope  the  Coorga  rajah  will  do  the  same. 

"  This  opening  of  the  pagodas  is  a  new  scene  in 
India.  Mr.  Swartz  was  the  remote  instrument.  He 
opened  the  rajah  of  Tanjore's  heart;  and  the  rajah 
of  Tanjore  opened  the  pagodas,  those  chambers  of 
imagery,  the  emblem  of  the  heart. 

"  The  rajah  of  Tanjore  wishes  me  to  visit  him 
again.  If  practicable,  I  shall  open  a  correspondence 
^ith  him. 

"  I  propose  to  leave  this  coast  in  a  fortnight,  and 

*  Good  liver. 


328  MEMOIR    OP    DR.    BUCHANAJT. 

proceed  to  Bombay,  from  whence  I  shall  probably 
go  across  to  Benares,  and  thence  down  to  Calcutta 
by  the  Ganges. 

"  Having  arrived  at  the  extreme  boundary  of  my 
tour,  and  accomplished  its  object,  I  thought  it 
would  be  acceptable  to  you  to  have  some  short  no- 
tices of  it.  Be  pleased  to  tell  Mr.  Newton  that  I 
am  well.  I  wrote  him  a  long  letter  from  Tanjore. 
It  is  with  pleasure  1  see  that,  amidst  the  agitations 
of  the  world,  he  is  tranquil,  and  at  peace,  and  near- 
ly arrived  at  the  haven  where  he  would  be.  Mar 
Dionysius,  the  bishop  of  the  Syrians  in  the  moun^ 
tains,  has  somewhat  of  Mr.  Newton's  manner  and. 
appearance  ;  only  that  the  bishop  has  a  venerable 
long  beard,  which  reaches  below  his  girdle,  an<i 
through  which  you  may  see  a  large  gold  cross  beam- 
ing at  intervals.  He  is  now  seventy-eight  years  of 
age,  amiable  in  his  temper,  and  devout  according 
to  his  knowledge. 

"  I  read  at  this  place,  in  Hayley^s  third  volume, 
Cowper's  correspondence  with  Mr.  Newton,  and 
was  pleased  to  see  the  name  of  the  good  man  ho- 
nored. 

"  I  remain,  dear  sir, 

*^  Very  sincerely  yours, 

"  C.  Buchanan." 


CHRISTIAN'    RESEARCHES.  329 


CHAPTER  X. 


*fcic8  in  India. 

We  proceed  to  give,  from  the  pen  of  Dr.  Bu- 
chanan himself,  the  results  of  his  "  Researches  " 
respecting  the  Jews  in  India. 

'*  There  are  three  remarkable  prophecies  con- 
cerning the  Jews : 

1.  ''  *  The  children  of  Israel  shall  abide  many- 
days  without  a  king,  and  withoiit  a  prince,  and 
without  a  sacrifice,  and  without  an  image,  and 
without  an  ephod,  and  without  teraphim.'  Hosea, 
3  :  4. 

2.  "  *  The  Loi'd  shall  scatter  thee  amcmg  all  peo- 
ple, from  the  one  end  of  the  earth  even  unto  the 
oilier,'  Deut.  29  :  64 ;  and  yet  'the  people  shall 
dwell  alone,  and  shall  not  be  reckoned  amongst  the 
nations.'    Numbers,  23  :  0. 

3.  '* '  Thou  shalt  become  an  astonishment,  a  pro- 
verb, and  a  by-word  among  all  the  nations  whither 
the  Lord  shall  lead  thee.  Among  these  nations 
thou  shalt  find  no  ease,  neither  shall  the  sole  of  thy 
foot  have  rest.'  Deut.  28  :  37,  65. 

"  The  first  of  these  prophecies  is  very  remarka- 
ble ;  ^ox  whoever  heard  of  a  nation  '  abiding  many 


330  MEMOIR   OP   DR.    BUCHANAN. 

days  ^  without  its  civil. and  religious  polity,  and  sur- 
viving its  political  existence  I  The  very  assertioa 
seems  to  involve  an  absurdity.  Did  the  Egyptians, 
Chaldeans,  Greeks,  or  Romans  survive  their  civil 
and  religious  polity  i 

"  The  second  prediction  is  not  less  singular  thar> 
the  former ;  for  if  the  Jews  v/ere  to  be  received 
among  the  nations  of  the  earth,  why  should  they 
not  '  be  reckoned  with  the  nations  ]'  Would  any 
man,  in  a  remote  age,  venture  to  foretell  that  there 
was  a  certain  nation  which,  in-  the  ages  to  come, 
would  be  received  and  tolerated  by  all  other  na- 
tions merely  to  be  persecuted  I 

"But  the  third  prophecy  is  such  as  must  afford 
a  contemplation  to  infidelity  to  the-  end  of  time* 
The  Jews  were  to-  become  '  aa  astonishment,  and 
a  proverb,  and  a  by-word  among  all  nations,'  be- 
cause they  shed  the  blood  of  the  Saviour  of  the 
world.  Now  it  is  not  surprising  that  christians 
should  reproach  them  for  such  a  crime..  But  how 
should  we  expect  that  they  would  be  *  trodden 
down  of  the  heathen  world '  who  never  heard  of 
such  a  Saviour  1  Behold  the  Hindoo  at  this  day 
punishing  the  Jew  without  knowing  the  crime  of 
which  he  has  been  guilty  ! 

"  These  three  prophecies  have  been  manifestly 
fulfilled  ;  and  if  we  had  no  other  evidence,  this  is 
sufficient  to  prove  '  that  there  is  a  God,  and  that  hev 
hath  made  a  revelation  to  man.*  ^ 


CHRISTIAN    RESEARCHES.  331 

"  There-  is  a  fourth  propliecy  concerning  thia^ 
people  whicli  will  shortly  be  accomplished.  The 
prophet  Hosea,  after  foretelling  that  the  children  of 
Israel  should  abide  many  days  without  a  king,  adds- 
these  words:  'Afterward  shall  they  return  and-^ 
seek  the  Lord  their  God,  and  David  their  king;.' 
and  shall  fear  the  Lord  and  his  goodness  in  the  lat- 
ter days."  Hosea,  3  :  5. 

"  Tlie  question  which  is  now  in  the  mouth  of 
every  christian,  is  that  which  was  asked  in  the  vi- 
sion of  the  prophet  Daniel  on  the  same  subject  r 
'  How  lone:  shall  it  be  to  the  end  of  these  wonders  V 
Daniel,  12  :  6.  AVhen  shall  the  '  indignation  against 
the  holy  people  be  accomplished  1'  Daniel,  11  :  31 ; 
that  they  may  '  return  and  seek  the  Lord  their 
God,  and  David  their  king.' 

"  To  Daniel  the  prophet,  and  to  John  the  evan- 
gelist, was  given  a  revelation  of  the  g>'eat  events 
of  the  general  church  to  the  end  of  time.  Daniel 
foretells  that  the  christian  church  shall  be  oppress- 
ed by  the  persecuting  powers  for  '  a  time,  times, 
and  the  dividing  of  a  time.'  Daniel,  7  :  25.  The 
same  f)eriod  he  assigns  for  the  accomplishment  of 
the  indignation  against  the  holy  people  Israel. 
*  One  said,  How  long  shall  it  be  to  the  end  of  these 
wonders  ?  And  I  heard  the  man  clothed  in  linen, 
which  was  upon  the  waters  of  the  river,  when  he 
held  up  his  right  hand  and  his  left  hand  unto  hea- 
ven, and  sware  by  Hira  that  liveth  for  ever,  that  it 


J32  MEMOIR    OP    I5R.    BtCUANAN. 

shall  be  for  a  ti?ne,  times  aiid'  a  half;  and  when  he 
shall  have  accomplished  to  scatter  the  power  of 
the  holy  people,  all  these  things  shall  be  fulfilled/ 
Daniel,  12  :  7.  Now  the  same  form  of  words  is 
used  in  the  Revelation  of  St.  John  to  express  the-- 
duration  of  the  papal  and  Mohammedan  powers. 
Oppressed  by  them,  the  church  of  Christ  was  to- 
remain  desolate  in  the  wilderness  '  ^ov  du  time ^  times f 
and  half  of  ^timeJ  Rev.  12  :  14.  Every  one  who 
is  erudite  in  sacred  prophecy  will  understand  that 
this  great  period  of  Daniel  and  St.  John  commen-^ 
ces  at  the  same  era,  namely,  the  rise  of  the  perse- 
cuting powers,  and  that  its  duration  is  1,260  years. 

"  Here  then  are  three  great  events  hastening  ta 
their  period — the  extinction  of  the  papal  dominion  ; 
the  subversion  of  the  Mohammedan  por/er ;  and 
'  the  accomplishment  of  the  divine  indignation 
against  the  holy  people,'-  or  the  return  of  the  people 
of  Israel  '  to  seek  the  Lord  their  God,  and  David 
their  king.' 

*'  Our  blessed  Saviour  has  not  left  an  event  of 
this  importance  without  notice.  '  The  Jews,'  saitb 
he, '  shall  be  led  away  captive  into  all  nations  ;  and 
Jerusalem  shall  be  trodden  down  of  the  gentiles, 
until  the  times  of  the  gentiles  be  fulfilled.'  Luke, 
21:  24.  What  these  '  times  of  the  gentiles'  are,  our 
Lord  has  explained  in  his  subsequent  revelation  to 
St.  John.  '  The  court  which  is  without  the  temple 
is  given  unto  the  gentiles  ;  and  the  holy  city  shall 


CHRISTIAN    RESEARCHED.  333 

tliey  tread  under  foot  forty  and  two  months  /'  or,  in 
prophetical  language,  at  a  day  for  a  year,  12C0 
years.  Rev.  1 1 ;  2. 

"  The  apostle  Paul  has  also  recorded  this  event. 
'  I  would  not,  brethren,  that  yc  should  be  ignorant 
of  this  mystery,  that  blindness,  in  part,  is  happened 
to  Israel,  until  the  fulness  of  the  gentiles  be  come 
in  ;  and  so  all  Israel  shall  be  saved.'  Rom.  II  :  25. 
The  fulness  of  time  for  the  conversion  of  the  gen- 
tiles will  be  come  in,  when  the  Mohammedan  and 
papal  obstructions  are  removed.  Such  events  as 
the  fall  of  the  pope  in  the  West,  and  of  Moham- 
med in  the  East,  both  of  whom  persecuted  the 
Jews  to  death,  will  probably  be  the  means  of 
awakening  the  Jews  to  consider  the  evidences  of 
that  religion  which  predicted  the  rise  and  fall  of 
both. 

"  But  the  grand  prophecy  of  the  apostle  Paul 
on  this  subject,  is  that  which  respects  the  canse^ 
qucnce  of  the  conversion  of  the  Jews.  '  The  re- 
ceiving of  the  Jews,*  saith  he,  '  what  shall  it  be 
to  the  world  but  life  fiom  the  dead  V  Rom.  11 :  15. 
Dispersed  as  they  are  in  all  countries,  and  speak- 
ing the  languages  of  all  countries,  they  will  form  a 
body  of  preachers  ready  prepared  ;  and  they  need 
only  say,  '  Behold  the  Scriptures  of  God  in  our 
possession ;  read  our  history  there,  as  foretold  three- 
thousand  years  ago,  and  read  the  events  in  the  an- 
nals of  nations.    We  are  witnesses  to  the  world. 


^'34  MEMOIR    OF    DR.    BUCHANAN\ 

And  the  world  to  us.  Let  the  whole  race  6f  man- 
kind unite  and  examine  the  fact.'  '  All  ye  inhabi- 
tants of  the  world  and  dwellers  on  the  earth,  see 
ye,  when  the  Lord  lifteth  up  an  ensign  on  the  moun- 
tains; and  when  he  bloweth  a  trumpef,  hear  ye.' 
Isaiah,  18  :  3.  Thus  will  their  preaching  be  to  the 
world  '  life  from  the  dead.' 

"  But  if  the  conversion  of  Israel  is  to  take  place 
when  the  papal  and  Mohammedan  powers  have 
fallen,  (and  who  does  not  see  that  these  events  are 
near  at  hand  1)  it  might  be  expected  that  some" 
signs  of  conciliation  between  Jews  and  christians 
would  now  begin  to  be  visible.  And  is  not  this  the 
fact '?  Christians  in  all  countries  bes^in  to  consider 
that  '  the  indignation'  against  the  holy  people'  iS 
nearly  accomplished.  Many  events  dieclare  it.  The 
indignation  of  man  is  relaxing.  The  prophecies 
have  been  fulfilled  regarding  it.  The  great  crime  at 
Calvary  has  been  punished  by  all  nations ;  and  we 
BOW  hear  the  words  of  the  prophet  addressing  us, 
'  Comfort  ye,  comfort  ye  my  people,  saith  your 
God  ;  speak  ye  comfortably  to  Jerusalem,  and  cry 
unto  her,  that  her  warfare  is  accomplished,  that  her 
iniquity  is  pardoned.'  Isaiah,  40  :  1.  This  is  the  di-^ 
vine  command.  And  behold,  christians  begin  now, 
for  the  first  time,  to  '  speak  comfortably  to  Jeru- 
salem.' 

"  While  the  author  was  in  the  East,  the  state  of 
fche  Jews,  who  are  dispersed  in  different  countries. 


CHRISTIAN    nESEARClIES.  335 

frequently  occuj^ied  his  thoughts.  He  had  heard 
that  they  existed  in  distinct  colonies  in  certain  parts 
of  India ;  that  some  of  them  had  arrived  long  be- 
fore the  chiistian  era,  and  had  remained  in  the 
midst  of  llie  Hindoos,  to  this  time,  a  distinct  and 
separate  people,  persecuted  by  the  native  princes, 
from  age  to  age,  and  yet  not  destroyed  ;  '  burning,' 
like  the  bush  of  Moses,  and  *  not  consumed;'  and 
lie  had  a  strong  desire  '  to  turn  aside  and  see  thi^; 
great  sight.'  His  mind  was  impressed  with  the  con- 
viction that  their  preservation,  in  such  a  variety  of 
regions,  and  under  such  a  diversity  of  circumstan- 
ces, could  be  only  effected  by  the  interposition  of 
divine  providence,  which  reserved  them,  thus  dis- 
tinct, for  some  special  and  important  purpose.  And 
since  the  period  of  time  for  the  accomplishment  of 
this  purpose  was  considered  by  many  to  be  fast  ap- 
proaching, he  wished  to  hear  the  sentiments  of  the 
Jews  from  their  own  lips,  and  to  learn  their  actual 
impressions  as  to  tlieir  present  circumstances  and 
future  hopes. 

"'  111  his  memorial  respecting  the  Syrian  chris- 
tians, presented  to  Marquis  Wellesley,  the  author 
also  noticed  the  existence  of  an  ancient  colony  of 
Jews  on  the  coast  of  Malabar,  particularly  at  Co- 
chin ;  and  as  this  place  had  recently  become  a  part 
of  the  British  emf)ire,  by  conquest  from  the  Dutch, 
Lord  William  Bentinck,  then  governor  of  Madras, 
who  had  received  letters  from  the  supreipe  govern* 


336  MEMOIR    OF    DR.    BUCHANAN. 

ment,  was  pleased  to  direct  the  civil  officer,  who 
had  charge  of  the  department  of  Cochin,  to  afford 
him  every  aid  in  the  prosecution  of  his  researches. 
His  first  tour  to  Cochin  was  in  November,  1S06, 
and  he  remained  in  the  country  till  February,  1807. 
He  again  visited  it  in  January,  1S08.  He  has  only 
room  here  to  introduce  a  few  notes  from  his  Jour- 
nal." 

"  CocHrN,  Feb.  4,  1807. 
"  I  have  now  been  in  Cochin,  or  its  vicinity,  for 
upwards  of  two  months,  and  have  got  well  ac- 
quainted with  the  Jews.  They  do  not  live  in  the 
city  of  Cochin,  but  in  a  town  about  a  mile  distant 
from  it,  called  Jews'  Town.  It  is  almost  wholly  in- 
habited by  the  Jews,  who  have  two  respectable 
synagogues.  Among  them  are  some  very  intelligent 
men,  who  are  not  ignorant  of  the  present  history 
of  nations.  There  are  also  Jews  here  from  remote 
parts  of  Asia,  so  that  this  is  the  fountain  of  intelli- 
gence concerning  that  people  in  the  East;  there 
being  constant  communication  by  ships  with  the 
Red  Sea,  the  Persian  Gulf,  and  the  mouths  of  the 
Indus.  The  resident  Jews  are  divided  into  two 
classes,  called  the  Jerusalem,  or  White  Jews,  and 
the  ancient,  or  Black  Jews.  The  White  Jews  reside 
at  this  place.  The  Black  Jews  have  also  a  syna- 
gogue here  ;  but  the  great  body  of  that  tribe  inha- 
bit towns  in  the  interior  of  the  province.  I  have 
now  seen  most  of  both  classes.  My  inquiries  refer- 


CHRISTIAN    KLSEAUCIIES.  337 

red  cliiefly  lo  their  antiqiiitf/^  theii-  mnnusrript.s^  and 
their  sentiments  concerning  the  'present  state  of  their 
nation. 

The  Jerusalent,  or  IV/iitc  Jews. 

'*  On  my  inquiry  into  the  antiquity  of  th(3  AV^iiitc 
Jews,  they  first  delivered  to  me  a  narrative,  in  the 
Hebrew  lunj^uagc,  of  their  arrival  in  India,  which 
has  been  handed  down  to  them  from  their  fathers  ; 
and  then  exhibited  their  ancient  brass  pb.te,  con- 
taining their  charter  and  freedom  of  residence 
given  by  a  king  of  Malabar.  The  following  is  the 
narrative  of  the  events  relating  to  their  first  arrival : 

"  *  After  the  second  temple  was  destroyed, 
(which  may  God  speedily  rebuild  !)  our  fathers, 
dreading  the  conqueror's  wrath,  departed  from  Je- 
rusalem, a  numerous  body  of  men,  women,  priests, 
and  Levites,  and  came  into  this  land.  There  were 
among  them  men  of  repute  for  learning  and  wis- 
dom ;  a!id  God  gave  the  people  favor  in  the  sight 
of  the  king  who  at  that  time  reigned  here,  and  he 
granted  them  a  place  to  dwell  in,  called  Cranga- 
nor.  He  allowed  them  a  patriarchal  jurisdiction 
within  the  district,  with  certain  privileges  of  nobi- 
lity ;  and  the  royal  grant  was  engraved,  according 
to  the  custom  of  those  days,  on  a  plate  of  brass. 
This  was  done  in  the  year  from  the  creation  of  the 

Buchanan.  «•*' 


.>38  MEMOm    OF    DR.    DUCnANAN. 

world  4250,  (A.  D.  190,)  and  this  plate  of  brass  we 
stiU  liave  in  possession.  Our  forefathers  continued 
at  Cranganor  for  about  a  thousand  years,  and  the 
number  of  heads  who  governed  were  seventy-two. 
Soon  after  our  settlement  other  Jews  followed  us 
from  Judea ;  and  among  these  came  that  man  of 
great  wisdom,  Rabbi  Samuel,  a  Levite  of  Jerusa- 
lem, with  his  son.  Rabbi  Jehuda  Levita.  They 
brought  with  them  the  silver  trumpets  made  use  of 
at  the  time  of  the  Jubilee,  which  were  saved  when 
the  second  temple  was  destroyed  ;  and  we  have 
heard  from  our  fathers  that  there  were  engraven 
upon  those  trumpets  the  letters  of  the  ineffable 
Name.  There  joined  us  also  from  Spain  and  other 
places,  from  time  to  time,  certain  tribes  of  Jews 
who  had  heard  of  our  prosperity.  But,  at  last,  dis- 
cord arising  among  ourselves,  one  of  our  chiefs 
called  to  his  assistance  an  Indian  king,  who  came 
upon  us  with  a  great  army,  destroyed  our  houses, 
palaces,  and  strong  holds  ;  dispossessed  us  of  Cran- 
ganor, killed  part  of  us,  and  carried  part  into  cap- 
tivity. By  these  massacres  we  were  reduced  to  a 
small  number.  Some  of  the  exiles  came  and  dwelt 
at  Cochin,  where  we  have  remained  ever  since, 
suffering  great  changes  from  time  to  time.  There 
are  amongst  us  some  of  the  children  of  Israel 
(Beni-Israel,)  who  came  from  the  country  of  Ash- 
kenaz,  from  Egypt,  from  Tsoba,  and  other  places, 
besides  those  who  formerly  inhabited  this  country.* 


CHRISTIAN    UESEARCHES.  339 

"  Tlie  native  annals  of  Malabar  confiiTn  the  foro- 
g(jing  account  in  tlie  princi[)al  circumstances,  as  do 
the  Moliammedan  histories  of  the  later  ages;  for 
the  Mohammedans  have  been  settled  here  in  great 
numbers  since  the  cightli  century. 

"  The  desolation  of  Cranganor  the  Jews  de- 
scribe as  being  like  the  desolation  of  Jerusalem  in 
miniature.  They  were  first  received  into  the  coun- 
try with  some  favor  and  confidence,  agreeably  to 
the  tenor  of  the  general  prophecy  concerning  the 
Jews  ;  for  no  country  was  to  reject  them  :  and  after 
they  had  obtained  some  wealth,  and  attracted  the 
notice  of  men,  they  were  precipitated  to  the  lowest 
abyss  of  human  suffering  and  reproach.  The  reci- 
tal of  the  sufferings  of  the  Jews  at  Cranganor  re- 
sembles much  that  of  tlie  Jews  at  Jerusalem,  as 
given  by  Joseph  us. 

"  I  now  requested  they  would  show  me  their 
brass  plate.  Having  been  given  by  a  native  king, 
it  is  written,  of  course,  in  the  Malaharic  language 
and  character;  and  is  now  so  old  that  it  cannot  be 
well  understood.  The  Jews  preserve  a  Hebrew 
translation  of  it,  which  they  presented  to  me  :  but 
the  Hebrew  itself  is  very  difficult,  and  they  do  not 
agree  among  themselves  as  to  the  meaning  of  some 
words.  I  have  employed,  by  their  permission,  an 
engraver  at  Cochin,  to  execute  a  fac-simile  of  the 
original  plate,  on  cf)pper.    This  ancient  docuraen: 


340  MEMOIR    OP    DR.    BUCHANAN* 

begins  in  the  following  manner,  according  to  the 
Hebrew  translation  :* 

"  '  In  the  peace  of  God,  the  King,  which  hatlr 
made  the  earth  according  to  his  pleasure.  To  this 
God,  I  AIRVl  BHAHMIN,  have  lifted  up  my 
liand,  and  have  granted  by  this  deed,  which  many 

Imndred  thousand  years  shall  run, I,  dwelling 

in  Cranganor,  have  granted,  in  the  thirty-sixth  year 
of  my  reign,  in  the  strength  of  power  I  have  grant- 
ed, in  the  strength  of  power  I  have  given  in  inhe- 
ritance, to  JOSEPH  RABBAN' 

''  Then  follow  the  privileges  of  nobility  ;  such  as 
permission  to  ride  on  the  elephant  j  to  have  a  he- 
rald to  <?o  before  to  announce  the  name  and  disTii- 
ty  ;  to  have  the  lamp  of  the  day ;  to  walk  on  carpets 
spread  upon  the  earth  >  and  to  have  trumpets  and 
cymbals  sound  before  him.  King  Airvi  then  ap- 
points Joseph  Rabban  to  be  '  chief  and  governor 
of  the  houses  of  congregation  (the  synagogues)  and 
of  certain  districts,  and  of  the  sojourners  in  them.' 
What  proves  the  importance  of  the  Jews  at  the 
period  when  this  grant  was  made,  is,  that  it  i^ 
signed  by  seven  kings  as  witnesses.  '  And  to  this- 
are  witnesses,  king  Bivada  Cubertin  Mitadin,  and 
he  is  king  of  Travmn^ore.    King  Airle  Nada  Mana 

*  The  original  is  engraved  on  both  sides  of  the  plate,  the- 
fac-simile  fonr>s  two  plates.  These,  with  the  Hebrew  trani«- 
iation,  are  now  deposited  in  the  public  library  at  the  uni- 
versity of  Cambridge, 


CHRMTIAN    RESVrAIl^'lIES^  241 

Vikriin,  an(3  he  is  the  Samnrin.  Kinc^  ^*el()da  Xada 
Archarin  Shatii>,  and  he  is  king  of  Argot.''  Tlie 
remaining  four  kings  are  those  of  Palgatcheri/,  Co- 
lastri,  Carhinath,  and  Varac/ia/fgur.  Tliere  is  no 
date  in  this  document,  further  than  wJiat  nujy  he 
collected  from  the  reigu  of  the  piince  and  the 
names  of  the  royal  witnesses.  Dates  are  not  usual 
in  old  Malabaric  writings^  One  fact  is  evident,  that 
the  Jews  must  have  existed  a  considerable  time  in 
the  country  before  they  could  have  obtained  such 
a  grant.  The  tradition  before  mentioned  assigns 
for  the  date  of  the  transaction,  the  year  of  the  cre- 
ation 4250,  which  is,  in  .Jewish  computation,  A.  1). 
490.  It  is  well  known  that  the  famous  Malabaric 
king,  Ceram  Fcrumal,  made  grants  to  the  Jews, 
christians,  and  Mahommedans  during  his  reign  ; 
but  that  prince  flourished  in  the  eighth  or  ninth 
centur}'. 

The  Black  Jews, 

'*  It  IS  only  necessary  to  look  at  the  countenance 
of  the  Black  Jews  to  be  satisfied  that  their  ances- 
tors must  have  arrived  in  India  many  ages  before 
the  White  Jews.  Their  Hindoo  complexion,  and 
their  very  imperfect  resemblance  to  the  European 
Jews,  indicate  that  they  were  detached  from  the 
parent  stock  in  Judeamany  years  before  the  Jews 
in  the  west,  and  that  there  have  been  intermarria- 
29* 


342  MEMOIR   OF    DR.    BtfC IfANX'I*. 

ges  with  families  not  Israelltish.  I  ba-d  lieTJrtd  tliat 
those  tribes  which  had  passed  the  Indus  have  as- 
similated so  much  to  the  customs  and  habits  of  the 
countries  in  which  they  live,  that  they  may  be 
sometim-es  seen  by  a  traveller  v/ithcmt  being  recog- 
nized as  Jews.  In  the  interior  towns  of  Malabar  I 
was  not  always  able  to  distinguit>h  the  J  ew  froHV 
the  Hindoos.  I  hence  perceived  how  easy  it  may 
be  to  mistake  the  tribes  of  Jewish  descent  amoiig' 
the  AfTghans  and  other  nations  in  the  northern- 
parts  of  Hindostan.  The  White  Jews  look  upo» 
ihe  Black  Jews  as^an  inferior  race,  and  as  not  of  a 
'jmre  cast ;  which  plainly  demonstrates  that  they 
do  not  spring  from  a  common  stook  in  India.- 

"  Th«  Black  Jews  communicated  to  me  much 
interesting  intelligence  concerning  their  brethren, 
the  ancient  Israelites,-  in  the  East ;-  traditional  in- 
deed in  its  nature,  but  in'  general  illustrative  of 
true  history.  They  recounted  the  names  of  many 
other  small  colonies  resident  in  northern  India, 
Tartary,  and  China,  and  gave  me  a  written  list  of 
sixty-jive  places,  I  conversed  with  those  who  had 
lately  visited  many  of  these  stations,  and  were 
about  to  return  again.  The  Jews  havfe  a  never- 
ceasing  communication  with  each  other  in  the  East. 
Their  families  indeed  are  generally  stationary,  be- 
ing subject  to  despotic  princeSybut  the  men  move 
tnuch  about  in  a  commercial  capacity,  and  the  same 
individual  will  pass  through  many  extensive  coun- 


ClfftlSTIAN   RESEARCHES.  o  W* 

tries  ;  so  that  when  any  thing  interesting  to  the 
nation  of  the  Jews  takes  place,  tiie  rumor  \vil^ 
pass  rapidly  throihghout  all  Asia-. 

"  I  inqirired  concerning  their  brethren,  the  Teni 
Tribes,  They  sai<l  that  it  was- commoi'ily  belicve«i 
among  them,  that  the  great  body  of  the  [sraclite.s- 
are  to  be  ftmnd  in  ('haldea,  and  in  the^onntries' 
contiguous  to  it,  being  the  very  places  whither  they 
were  first  carried  into  captivrty  j  that  some  few  fa- 
milies hail  migrated  into  regions  more  remote,  bs 
to  Cochin  and  Kaj^^poor,  in  India,  and  to  other' 
places  yet  farther  to  the  E>ast ;  but  that  the  bulk 
of  the  nation,  thougli  now  much  reduced  in  num- 
ber, had  not  to  this  day  removed  two  tliousanc^ 
miles  from  Samaria. 

"  Among  the  Black  Jcavs  I  could  not  find  many 
copies-  of  the  Bible.  They  informed  me  that  in 
certain  places  of  the  remote  dispersion  their 
brethren  have  but  some  small  portions  of  the  Scrip- 
tures, and  that  the  i^roplmtkal  books  were  rare  ; 
but  that  they  themselves,  from  their  vicinity  to  the 
White  Jews,  have  been  supphed,  from  time  to 
time,  with  thfe  whole  of  the  Old  Testament. 

*'  From  these  communications  I  plainly  perceive 
the  important  duty  which  now  devolves  on  chris- 
tians possessing  the  art  of  j^rbdlng,  to  send  to  the 
Jews  in  the  East  copies  of  the  Hebrew  Scriptures, 
and  particularly  of  ihe  prophctkal  books.  If  only 
the  prophecies  of  haialt  and  Daniel  were  publish- 


344  MEMOIR   OF    DK.    BUCHANAN. 

ed  among  them,  the  effect  might  be  great.  They 
do  not  want  the  law  so  mach.  But  the  prophetical 
books  w^ould  appear  among  them  with  some  no- 
velty, particularly  in  a  detached  form,  and  could 
be  easily  circulated  through  the  remotest  part 
of  Asia. 

*'  I  have  had  many  interesting  conferences  with 
the  Jews'^n  the  subject  of  their  present  state  ;  and 
have  been  much  struck  with  two  circumstances, 
their  constant  reference  to  the  "DESOLATION  of 
Jerusalem,  and  their  confident  hope  that  it  will  be 
one  day  REBUILT.  The  desolation  of  the  Holy 
City  is  ever  present  to  the  minds  of  the  Jews, 
when  the  subject  is  concerning  themselves  as  a 
nation  ;  for,  though  without  a  king  and  without  a 
country,  they  constantly  speak  of  the  uyiity  of  their 
nation.  Distance  of  time  and  place  seems  to  have 
no  effect  in  obliterating  the  remembrance  of  the 
desolation.  I  often  thought  of  the  verse  in  the 
Psalms,  '  If  I  forget  thee»  O  Jerusalem,  let  my 
right  hand  forget  her  cunning.'  They  speak  of  Pa- 
lestine as  being  close  at  hand,  and  easily  accessible. 
It  is  become  an  ordinance  of  their  rabbins  in  some 
places,  that  when  a  "man  builds  a  new  house,  he 
shall  leave  a  small  part  of  it  unfinished,  as  an  em- 
blem of  ruin,  and  write  on  it  these  words,  Zecher 
Lacliorchan,  i.  e.  In  MEMORY  of  the  DESO- 
LATION. 

"  Their  hopes  of  rebuilding  the  walls  of  Jerusa- 


CHRISTIAN  nEsr-Artcucsf.  "io 

1cm  llie  third  and  /r/A/  time,  under  the  auspices  of 
tlic  Messiah,  or  of  a  second  Cyrus  before  his  coui- 
ing,  are  always  expressed  with  great  Confidence. 
They  have  a  general  impression  that  the  period  of 
their  hberation  from  the  heathen  is  not  very  re- 
mote; and  they  consider  the  present  commotions 
in  the  earth  as  gradually  loosening  their  bonds.  '  It 
is,'  say  they^  '  a  sure  sign  of  our  appfoaching  re- 
storation, that  in  almost  all  countries  there  is  a  ^e- 
nrml  relaxation  of  the  persecution  against  us.'  I 
pressed  strongly  upon  them  the  propliecies  of  Da- 
niel. In  fofmer  times  that  prophet  was  not  in  re- 
pute among  the  Jews,  because  he  predicted  the 
coming  of  the  Messiah  at  the  end  of  '  the  seventy 
weeks;' and  his  book  his  been  actually  removed 
from  the  list  of  prophetic  writings,  and  remains  to 
this  day  among  the  Hd^iograplia,  such  as  Job,  the 
Psalms,  the  Proverbs,  Ruth  ;  but  he  now  begins  to 
be  popular  among  those  who  have  studied  him,  be- 
cause he  has  predicted  that  the  final  ^accomplish- 
ment of  the  indignation  against  the  holy  people  ' 
is  near  at  hand.  The  strongest  argument  to  presa 
upon  the  mind  of  a  Jew,  at  this  period,  is  to  ex- 
]ilain  to  his  conviction  Daniel's  period  of  1260 
years  ;  and  then  to  show  the  analogy  which  it  bears 
to  the  pei-iod  of  the  Evangelist  John,  concerning 
the  papal  and  Mohammedan  powers,  with  the  state 
of  which  the  Jews  are  well  acquainted. 

"  1  passed   throngh  the   burial   ground  of  the 


346  MEMOIR    OF    DR.    BUCHANAN. 

Jews  the  other  day.  Some  of  the  tombs  are  hand- 
somely constructed,  and  have  Hebrew  inscriptions 
in  prose  and  verse.  This  mansion  of  the  dead  is 
called  by  the  Jews,  Beth  Haiim,  or  '  The  House  of 
the  Living!' 

"  Being  much  gratified  with  my  visit  to  the  Jews 
of  Malabar,  and  desirous  to  maintain  some  commu- 
nication with  them,  I  have  engaged  a  very  respect- 
able member  of  their  community  to  accompany 
me  with  his  servant  to  Bengal,  and  to  remain  with 
me  in  the  capacity  of  Hebrew  Tnoonshee,  or  teacher, 
nntil  my  return  to  England.  Observing  that  in  the 
houses  of  the  White  Jews  there  are  many  volumes 
of  printed  Hebrew,  mostly  of  the  fifteenth  and  six- 
teenth centuries,  which  are  rarely  met  with  in  Eng- 
land, I  have  employed  MlsraJti,  that  is  the  name  of 
my  moonshee,  to  collect  some  of  the  most  va- 
luable. 

'*  At  the  beginning  of  the  following  year,  (ISOS) 
the  author  visited  Cochin  a  second  time,  and  pro- 
ceeded afterwards  to  Bombay,  where  he  had  an  op- 
portunity of  meeting  with  some  very  intelligent 
men  of  the  Jewish  nation.  They  had  heard  of  his 
conferences  with  the  Cochin  Jews,  and  were  desi- 
rous to  discuss  certain  topics,  particularly  the  pro- 
phecies of  Isaiah  ;  and  they  engaged  in  them  with 
far  more  spirit  and  frankness,  he  thought,  tharf  their 
brethren  at  Cochin  had  done.  They  told  him  that 
if  he  would  take  a  walk  to  the  bazar  in  the  suburb. 


ciiRi.sTiAN   RnsnARciiLa.  347 

without  tlio  walls  of  Bombay  town,  lie  would  find 
a  synagogue  without  a  Scpher  Tora,  or  Book  of'the 
Law.  He  (lid  so,  and  found  it  to  be  the  case.  The 
minister  and  a  few  of  the  Jews  assembled  and 
showed  hitn  their  synagogue,  in  which  there  were 
some  loose  leaves  of  prayers  in  manuscript^  but  no 
Book  of  the  Law.  The  author  did  not  understand 
that  they  disapproved  of  the  Law';  but  they  had 
no  copy  of  it.  They  seemed  to  have  little  know- 
ledge of  the  Jewish  Scriptures  or  history.  This  only 
proved  what  he  had  been  often  told,  that  small 
portions  of  the  Jewish  nation  melt  away  from  time 
to  time,  and  are  absorbed  in  the  mass  of  the  heathen 
world.  Nor  is  this  any  argument  against  the  truth 
of  the  prophecy,  which  declares  that  they  should 
remain  a  separate  and  distinct  people ;  for  these 
are  mere  exceptions.  Conversions  to  Christianity  in 
the  early  ages  would  equally  militate  against  the 
prediction  taken  in  an  absolute  sense." 

"  The  tribes  of  Israel  are  no  longer  to  he  inquired 
after  hy  name.  The  purpose  for  which  they  were 
once  divided  into  tribes  was  accomplished  when 
the  genealogy  of  the  Messiah  was  traced  to  the 
stem  of  David.  Neither  do  the  Israelites  them- 
selves know  certainly  from  what  families  they  are 
descended.  And  this  is  a  chief  argument  against 
the  Jews,  to  which  the  author  never  heard  that  a 
Jew   could   make   a    sensible   reply.     The   tribe 


34S  MEMOIR    OF    Dll.    BUCHANAN. 

of  Jiulah  was  selected  as  that  from  which  the 
Messiah  should  come ;  and  behold,  the  Jews  do 
7Wt  know  which  of  them  arc  of  the  tribe  of  Judah  ! 

"  When  the  author  mentioned  that  it  was  the 
opinion  of  some  that  the  ten  tribes  had  migrated 
from  the  Chaldean  provinces,  he  was  asked  to  what 
country  we  supposed  they  had  gone,  and  whether 
we  had  ever  heard  of  their  moving  in  a  great  army 
on  such  an  expedilion. 

"  It  will  be  easy  perhaps  to  show  that  the  great 
body  of  the  ten  tribes  remain  to  this  day  in  the 
countries  to  which  they  were  first  carried  captive. 
If  we  can  discover  where  they  were  in  the  first 
century  of  the  christian  era,  which  was  seven  hun- 
dred years  after  the  carrying  away  to  Babylon, 
and  again  where  they  were  in  the  fifth  century,  we 
certainly  may  be  able  to  trace  them  up  to  this 
time. 

"  Joseph  us,  who  wrote  in  the  leign  of  A'^espa- 
sian,  recites  a  speech  made  by  king  Agrippa  to 
the  Jews,  wherein  he  exhorts  them  to  submit  to 
the  Romans,  and  expostulates  with  them  in  these 
words  :  *  What,  do  you  stretch  your  hopes  beyond 
the  river  Euphrates  %  Do  any  of  you  think  that 
your  fellow-tribes  will  come  to  your  aid  out  of 
Adiahene  ?  Besides,  if  they  would  come,  the  Par- 
thian will  not  permit  it.'  Jos.  de  Bell.  lib.  ii.  c.  28. 
We  learn  from  this  oration,  delivered  to  the  Jews 
themselves,  and  by  a  king  of  the  Jews,  that  the 


CHRISTIAN    RESEARCHES  3iO 

ten  tribes  were  tlien  captive  in  Media,  under  the 
Persian  princes. 

"In  tlie  fifth  century,  Jerome,  author  of  the  Vul- 
gate, treating  of  the  dispersed  Jews,  in  his  Notes 
upon  ITosea,  has  these  words  :  '  Unto  this  day  tlie 
ten  tribes  are  subject  to  the  kings  of  the  Per- 
sians, nor  lias  their  captivity  ever  been  loosed.* 
Tom.  vi.  p.  7.  And  again  he  says,  *  The  ten 
tribes  inhabit  at  this  day  the  cities  and  mountains 
of  the  Medes.'     Tom.  ^^.  p.  SO. 

"  There  is  no  room  left  for  doubt  on  this  subject. 
Have  we  heard  of  any  expedition  of  the  Jews 
'  going  forth  from  that  country,  since  that  period, 
like  the  Goths  and  Huns,  to  conquer  nations?* 
Have  we  ever  heard  of  their  rising  in  insurrection 
to  burst  the  bands  of  their  captivity  ]  To  this  day, 
both  Jews  and  christians  are  generally  in  a  state  of 
captivity  in  these  despotic  countries.  No  family 
dares  to  leave  the  kingdom  without  permission  of 
ihc  kinjr."* 

o 

Mohammedanism  reduced  the  number  of  the 
Jews  exceedingly  :  it  was  presented  to  them  at  the 
point  of  the  sword.  We  know  that  multitudes  of 
christians  received  it ;  for  example,  *  the  seven 
churches  of  Asia;'  and  we  may  believe  that  an 
equal  proportion  of  Jews  were  proselyted  by  the 

*  Joseph  Emin,  a  christian  well  known  in  Calcutta^ 
wished  to  bring  his  family  from  Ispahan  ;  but  he  could  not 
effect  it,  though  our  government  interested  itself  in  his 
behalf. 

Buchanan.  30 


350  BIEMOIR    OF    DR.    BUCHANAN. 

same  means.  In  the  provinces  of  Cashmlre  and 
Aflgbanistan  some  of  the  Jews  submitted  to  great 
sacrifices,  and  they  remain  Jews  to  this  day :  but 
the  greater  number  yielded,  in  the  course  of  ages, 
to  the  power  of  the  reigning  religion.  Their  coun- 
tenance, their  language,  their  names,  their  rites 
and  observances,  and  their  history,  all  conspire  to 
establish  the  fact.*  We  may  judge,  in  some  de- 
gree, of  the  number  of  those  who  would  yield  to 
the  sword  of  Mohammed,  and  conform,  in  appear- 
ance at  least,  to  what  was  called  a  sister  religion^ 
from  the  number  of  those  who  conformed  to  the 
christian  religion,  under  the  influence  of  the  inqui- 
sition in  Spain  and  Portugal.  Orobio,  who  was 
himself  a  Jew,  states  in  his  history  that  there  were 
upwards  of  twenty  thousand  Jews  in  Spain  alone, 
who,  from  fear  of  the  inquisition,  professed  chris 
tianity,  some  of  whom  were  priests  and  bishops. 
The  tribes  of  the  Affghan  race  are  very  numerous, 
and  of  different  castes  ;  and  it  is  probable  that  the 
proportion  which  is  of  Jewish  descent  is  not  great. 
The  Affghan  nations  extend  on  both  sides  of  the 
Indus,  and  inhabit  the  mountainous  region  com- 
mencing in  western  Persia.    They  differ  in  lan- 

*  Mr.  Forster  was  so  much  struck  with  the  general  ap- 
pearance, garb  and  manners  of  the  Cashmirians,  as  to  think, 
without  any  previous  knowledge  of  the  fact,  that  he  had 
been  suddenly  transported  among  a  nation  of  Jews.  See 
Fonter's  Travels, 


CHRIST.AN    RESEARCHES.  351 

guage,  customs,  religion,  and  countenance,  and 
have  little  knowledge  of  each  other.  Some  tribes 
have  the  countenance  of  the  Persian,  and  some  of 
the  Hindoo  ;  and  some  tribes  are  evidently  of  Jew- 
ish extraction, 

"  Calculating  then  the  number  of  Jews  who  now 
inhabit  the  provinces  of  ancient  Chaldea,  or  the 
contiguous  countries,  and  who  still  profess  Juda- 
ism ;  and  the  number  of  those  who  embraced  Mo- 
hammedanism, or  some  form  of  it^  in  the  same  re- 
gions ;  we  may  be  satisfied  '  That  the  greater  part 
of  the  ten  tribes,  which  noiu  exlat,  are  to  be  found 
in  the  countries  of  their  first  captivity.' 

"  On  the  author's  return  to  England  he  foun(3 
that  a  society  had  been  instituted  for  the  conversion 
of  the  Jews;  and  he  was  not  a  little  surprised  to 
bear  that  some  christians  had  opposed  its  institu- 
tion. He  was  less  surprised  at  this,  however,  when 
he  was  informed  that  objections  had  been  brought 
against  the  society  for  the  circulation  of  the  Bible. 
It  is  possible  to  urge  political  arguments  against 
Christianity  itself.  Such  a  spirit  as  this  does  not 
seem  entitled  to  much  courtesy;  for  it  springs  di- 
rectly from  this  assumption,  that  the  Bible  is  not 
from  God,  or  that  there  is  something  greater  than 
truthy 


352  MEMOIR   OP   DR.   BUCHANAN. 


CHAPTER  XL 


Popery  in  India^^Inquiiition  at  Goa. 

In  connection  with  the  preceding  results  of  Dr. 
Buchanan's  first  tour  on  the  coast  of  Malabar,  we 
give  his  own  sketch  of  Vopery  in  India,  and  parti- 
cularly of  his  visit  to  the  Inquisition  at>Goa,  made 
after  he  had  left  Calcutta  for  his  native  land. 

"  In  passing  through  the  Romish  provinces  in 
the  East,  though  the  author  had  before  heard  much 
of  the  papal  corruptions,  he  certainly  did  not  ex- 
pect to  see  Christianity  in  the  degraded  state  in 
which  he  found  it.  Of  the  priests  it  may  truly  be 
said  that  they  are,  in  general,  better  acquainted 
with  the  Veda  of  Brahma  than  with  the  Gospel  of 
Christ.  In  some  places  the  doctrines  of  both  are 
blended.  At  Aughoor,  situated  between  Tritchino- 
poly  and  Madura,  he  witnessed  (in  October,  1806) 
the  tower  of  Juggernaut  employed  to  solemnize  a 
nominally  christian  festival.  Tlie  old  priest  Jose- 
phus  accompanied  him  when  he  surveyed  the  ido- 
latrous car  and  its  painted  figures,  and  gave  him  a 
particular  account  of  the  various  ceremonies  which 
are  performed,  seemingly  unconscious  himself  of 
any  impropriety  in  them. 


CIIRISTFAN    RESEAReHES.  353 

''While  the  author  viewed  these  corruptions  in 
different  places,  and  in  diOerent  forms,  he  was  al- 
ways referred  to  the  inqmsition  at  Goa,  as  the  foun- 
tain-head. He  had  long  cherished  the  hope  that  he 
should  be  able  to  visit  Goa  before  he  left  India: 
His  chief  objects  were  the  following  : 

'''  I.  To  ascertain  whether  the  inquisition  actual- 
ly refuse  to  recognize  the  Bible  among  the  Romish 
churches  in  India.  2.  To  inquire  into  the  state  and 
jurisdiction  of  the  inquisition,  particularly  as  it 
affected  British  subjects.  3.  To  learn  what  was 
the  system  of  education  for  the  priesthood ;  and  4. 
To  examine  the  ancient  church  libraries  in  Goa, 
which  were  said  to  contain  all  the  books  of  the  first 
printing. 

"  He  will  select  from  his  journal,  in  this  place, 
chiefly  what  relates  to  the  inquisition.  He  had 
learnt  from  every  quarter  that  this  tribunal,  for- 
merly so  well  known  for  its  frequent  burnings,  was 
still  in  operation,  though  under  some  restrictions 
as  to  the  jniLlicitt/  of  its  proceedings,  and  that  its 
power  extended  to  the  extreme  boundary  of  Hin- 
doatan.  That,  in  the  present  civilized  state  of  chris- 
tian nations  in  Europe,  an  inquisition  should  exist 
at  all  undsr  tlieir  authority,  appeared  strange ;  but 
that  a  papal  tribunal  of  this  character  should  ex- 
ist under  the  implied  toleration  and  countenance 
of  the  British  government ;  that  christians,  being 
subjects  to  the  British  empire;  and  inhabiting  the 
30* 


S54  MEMOIR   OF   Dn,    BUCHANAN. 

British  territories,  should  be  amenable  to  its  power 
and  jurisdiction,  Was  a  statement  which  seemed  to 
be  scarcely  credible  i  but,  if  true,  a  fact  which 
demanded  the  most  public  and  solemn  represen- 
tation." 

"  Go.4,  Convent  of  the  Augusiinians,  Jan.  23-,  180&. 

"  On  my  arrival  at  Goa  I  was  received  mto  the 
house  of  Capt.  Schuyler,  the  British  resident.  The 
British  force  here  is  commanded  by  Colonel  Adams, 
of  his  majesfy'sr  78th  regiment,  with  whom  I  was- 
formerly  well  acquainted  in  Bengal.*  Next  day  I 
was  introduced  by  these  gentlemen  to  the  Viceroy 
of  Goa,  the  Count  de  Cabral.  I  intimated  to  his  ex- 
cellency my  wish  to  sail  up  the  river  to-  old  Goa,t 
(where  the  inquisition  is,)  to  which  he  politely  ac- 
ceded. Major  Pareira,  of  the  Portuguese  estab-- 
iishment,  who  was  present,  and  to  whom  I  hadlet- 

*  The  forts  in  the  harbor  of  Goa  "w'ere  then  occupied  by 
the  British  troops. 

t  There  is  old  and  new  Goa.  The  old  city  is  about  eisfht 
miles  up  the  river.  The  viceroy  and  the  chief  Portuguese 
inhabitants  reside  at  new  Goa,  which  is  at  the  mouth  of  the 
river,  within  the  forts  of  the  harbor.  The  old  city,  where 
the  inquisition  and  the  churches  are,  is  now  almost  entirely 
deserted  by  the  secular  Portuguese,  and  is  inhabited  by  the 
priests  alone.  The  unhealthiness  of  the  place,  and  the  as- 
cendency of  the  priesis,  are  the  causes  assigned  for  aban- 
doning the  ancient  city. 


CHRISTIAN   RESEARCHES.  355 

ters  of  introduction  from  Bengal,  offered  to  accom- 
pany me  to  the  city,  and  to  introduce  me  to  the 
archbishop  of  Goa,  the  primate  of  the  Orient. 

"  I  had  communicated  to  Colonel  Adams,  and  to 
tlie  Britisli  resident,  my  purpose  of  inquiring  into 
the  state  of  the  inquisition.  These  gentlemen  in- 
ft)rmed  me  that  I  should  not  be  able  to  accomplish 
my  design  without  difficulty,  since  every  thing  re- 
lating to  the  inquisition  was  conducted  in  a  very 
secret  manner,  the  most  respectable  of  the  lay 
Portuguese  themselves  being  ignorant  of  its  pro- 
ceedings ;  and  that,  if  the  priests  were  to  discover 
my  object,  their  excessive  jealousy  and  alarm 
"tvould  prevent  their  communicating  with  me,  or 
satisfying  my  inquiries  on  any  subject. 

"On  receiving  this  intelligence  I  perceived  that 
it  would  be  necessary  to  proceed  with  caution.  I 
was,  in  fact,  about  to  visit  a  republic  of  priests  ; 
whose  dominion  had  existed  for  nearly  three  cen- 
turies; whose  province  it  was  to  prosecute  here- 
tics, and  particularly  the  teachers  of  heresy  ;  and 
from  whose  authority  and  sentence  there  was  no 
appeal  in  India.* 

*  I  u-as  informed  that  the  viceroy  of  Goa  Ms  no  authority 
over  the  inquisition,  and  that  he  himself  is  liable  to  its  cen- 
sure. Were  the  British  government,  for  instance,  to  prefer 
a  complaint  against  the  inquisition  to  the  Portuguese  gov- 
ernment at  Goa,  it  could  obtain  no  redress.  By  the  very- 
constitution  of  the  inquisition,  there  is  no  power  in  India 
that  can  invade  its  jurisdiction,  or  even  put  a  question  to  it 
on  any  subject. 


356  MEMOIR    OF   DR.    BUCHANAN. 

"  It  happened  that  Lieut.  Kempthorne;  com- 
mander  of  bis  majesty's  brig  Diana,  a  distant  con- 
nexion of  my  own,  was  at  this  time  in  the  harbor. 
On  his  learning  that  I  meant  to  visit  old  Goa,  he 
offered  to  accompany  me,  as  did  Captain  Sterling, 
of  his  majesty's  4Sth  regiment,,  which  is  now  sta- 
tioned at  the  forts. 

"  We- proceeded  up  the  river  in  the  British  re* 
sident'^s  barge,  accompanied  by  Major  Pareira, 
who  was  well  qualified,  by  a  thirty  years'  residence, 
to  oive  information  concernincT  local  circumstances. 
From  him  I  learned  that  there  were  upwards  of 
two  hundred  churches  and  chapels  in  the  province 
of  Goa,  and  upwards  of  two  thousand  priests. 

"  On  our  arrival  at  the  city*  it  was  past  twelvi 
o'clock  :  all  the  churches  were  shut ;  and  we  wen 
told  that  they  would  not  be  opened  again  till  twt 
o'clock.  I  mentioned  to  Major  Pareira  that  I  in 
tended  to  stay  at  old   Goa  some  days  ;  and  that  I 

*  We  entered  the  city  by  the  palace-  gate,  over  which  if 
the  statue  of  ¥as'.o  de  Gama,  who  first  opened  India  to  tho 
view  of  Europe.  I  had  seen  at  Calicut,  a  iev!  weeks  before, 
the  ruins  of  the  Samorin's  palace,  in  which  Vasco  de  Ga- 
ma  was  first  received.  The  Samorin  was  the  first  native 
prince  against  whom  the  Europeans  made  war.  The  empire 
of  the  Samorin  has  passed  away  ;  and  the  empire  of  hir 
conquerors  has  passed  away  ;  and  now  imperial  Britain  ex 
ercises  dominion.  May  imperial  Britain  be  prepared  to 
give  a  good  account  of  her  stewardship,  when  it  shall  be 
said  unto  her,  "  Thou  mayest  be  no  longer  steward." 


CJURISTIAN    RESEARCHES.  35? 

should  be  obliged  to  him  to  find  me  a  place  to 
sleep  in.  He  seemed  surprised  at  this  intimation, 
and  observed  that  it  would  be  difficult  for  me  to 
obtain  a  reception  in  any  of  the  churches  or  con- 
vents, and  that  there  were  no  private  houses  ihf||| 
which  I  could  be  admitted.  I  said  I  could  sleep 
any  where.  I  had  two  servants  with  me,  and  a  tra- 
velling bed.  When  he  perceived  that  I  was  serious 
in  my  purpose,  he  gave  directions  to  a  civil  officer 
in  that  place  to  clear  out  a  room  in  a  building 
which  had  been  long  uninhabited,  and  which  was 
then  used  as  a  warehouse  fur  goods.  Matters  at 
this  time  presented  a  very  gloomy  appearance  ; 
and  I  had  thoughts  of  returning  with  my  compa- 
nions from  this  inhospitable  place.  In  the  mean- 
time we  sat  down  in  the  room  I  have  just  men- 
tioned to  take  some  refreshment,  while  Major 
Pareira  went  to  call  on  some  of  his  friends.  During 
this  interval  I  communicated  to  Lieut.  Kemp- 
thorne  the  object  of  my  visit.  I  had  in  my  ])ocket 
'  Dellon's  Account  of  the  Inquisition  at  Goa;'* 
and  I  mentioned  some  particulars.  While  \VG  were 
conversing  on  the  subject,  the  great  bell  of  the  ca- 

*  Monsieur  Dellon,  a  physician,  was  imprisoned  in  the 
dungeon  of  ihe  inquisition  at  Goa  for  two  )'ears,  and  wit- 
nessed an  auto  da  fe,  when  some  heretics  were  burned,  at 
which  time  he  waliced  barefoot.  After  his  release  he  wrote 
the  history  of  his  confinement.  His  descriptions  are  in  ge- 
neral very  accurate. 


358  MEMOIR    OF    DR.    BUCHAN-AN". 

thedral  began  to  toll  ;  the  same  which  Dellon 
observes  always  tolls  before  day-light  on  the  morn- 
ing of  the  Auto  da  Fe.  I  did  not  myself  ask  any 
questions  of  the  people  concerning  the  inquisition  ; 
ft;  Mr.  Kempthorne  made  inquiries  for  me  :  and 
he  soon  found  out  that  the  Santa  Csisa,  or  Holy 
Office,  was  close  to  the  house  where  they  were  then 
sitting.  The  gentlemen  went  to  the  window  to 
view  the  hornd'  mansion  ;  and  I  could  see  the  indig- 
nation of  free  and  enlightened  men  arise  in  the 
countenances  of  the  two  British  officers,  while  they 
contemplated  a  pkce  where  formerly  their  own 
countrymen  were  condemned  to  the  flames,  and  in- 
to which  they  themselves  might  now  suddenly  be 
thrown,  without  the  possibility  of  rescue. 

"At  two  o'clock  we  went  out  to  view  the  churches, 
which  were  now  open  for  the  afternoon  service ; 
for  there  are  regular  daily  masses  ;  and  the  bells 
began  to  assail  the  ear  in  every  quarter. 

"  The  magnificence  of  the  churches  of  Goa  far 
exceeded  any  idea  I  had  formed  from  the  previous 
description.  Goa  is  properly  a  city  of  churches  ; 
and  the  wealth  of  provinces  seems  to  have  been  ex- 
pended in  their  erection.  The  ancient  specimens 
of  architecture  at  this  place  far  excel  any  thing 
that  has  been  attempted  in  modern  times  in  any 
other  part  of  the  East,  both  in  grandeur  and  in 
taste.  The  chapel  of  the  palace  is  built  after  the 
plan  of  St.  Peter's  at  Rome,  and  is  said  to  be  an 


CHRISTIAN    RESEARCHES.  359 

accurate  model  of  that  paragon  of  architecture. 
The  church  of  St.  Dorrjinic,  the  founder  of  the  in- 
quisition, is  decorated  with  paintings  of  Italian 
masters.  St.  Francis  Xavier  lies  enshrined  in  a 
monument  of  exquisite  art,  and  his  coffin  is  enchas- 
ed with  silver  and  prt^cious  stones.  The  cathedral 
of  Goa  is  worthy  of  one  of  the  principal  cities  of 
Europe  ;  and  the  church  and  convent  of  the  Au- 
gustinians  (in  which  I  now  reside)  is  a  noble  pile 
of  building,  situated  on  an  eminence,  and  has  a 
magnificent  appearance  from  afar. 

"  But  what  a  contrast  to  all  this  grandeur  of  the 
churches  is  the  worship  offered  in  them  !  I  have 
been  present  at  the  service  in  one  or  other  of  the 
chapels  everyday  since  I  arrived,  and  I  seldom  see 
a  single  worshipper  but  the  ecclesiastics.  Two 
rows  of  native  priests  kneeling  in  order  before  the 
altar,  clothed  in  course  black  garments,  of  sickly 
appearance  and  vacant  countenance,  perform  here, 
from  day  to  day,  their  laborious  masses,  seemingly 
unconscious  of  any  other  duty  or  obligation  of  life. 

"  The  day  was  now  far  spent,  and  my  companions 
were  about  to  leave  me.  Wliile  I  was  considering 
whether  I  should  return  with  them,  Major  Pareira 
said  he  would  first  introduce  me  to  a  priest  high  in 
office,  and  one  of  the  most  learned  men  in  the  place. 
We  accordingly  walked  to  the  convent  of  the  Au- 
gustinians,  where  I  was  presented  to  Josephus  a 
Doloribus,  a  man  well  advanced  in  life,  of  pale  vis» 


360  MEMOIR   OP    DR.    BUCHANAN. 

age  and  penetrating  eye,  rather  of  a  reverend  ap- 
pearance, and  possessing  great  fluency  of  speech 
and   urbanity  of  manners.     At  first  sight  he  pre- 
sented the  aspect  of  one  of  those  acute  and  pru- 
dent men  of  the  world,  the  learned  and  respectable 
Italian  Jesuits,  some  of  whom  are  yet  found,  since 
the  demolition  of  their  order,  reposing  in  tranquil 
obscurity  in  diHTerent  parts  of  the  East.     After  half 
an  hour's  conversation  in  the  Latin  language,  dur- 
ing which  he  adverted  rapidly  to  a  variety  of  sub' 
jects,  and  inquired  concerning  some  learned  men 
of  his  own  church,  whom  I  had  visited  in  my  tour, 
he   politely  invited  me  to  take  up  my  residence 
with  him  during  my  stay  at  old  Goa.     I  was  high- 
ly  gi'atified  by   this  unexpected   invitation  ;    but 
Lieut.  I&mpthorne  did  not  approve  of  leaving  me 
in  the  hands  of  the  inquisitors.     For  judge  of  our 
sui-prise  when  we  discovered  that  my  learned  host 
was  one  of  the  inquisitors  of  the  holy  office,  the  se- 
cond member  of  that  august  tribunal. in  rank,  but 
the  first  and  most  active  agent  in  the  business  of 
the  department.     Apartments  were  assigned  to  me 
in  the  college  adjoining  the  convent,  next  to  the 
rooms  of  the  inquisitor  himself;  and  here  I  have 
been  now  four  days  at  the  very  fountain-head  of 
information   in  regard  to  those  subjects  which  I 
wished  to  investigate.     I  breakfast  and  dine  with 
the  inquisitor  almost  every  day,  and  he  generally 
passes  his  evenings  in  my  apartment.    As  he  con- 


CHRISTIAN   RESEARCHES.  361 

sitlera  my  inquiries  to  be  chiefly  of  a  literary  na- 
lure,  he  is  perfectly  candid  atid  communicative  on 
all  subjects. 

"  Next  day  after  my  arrival  I  was  introduced  by 
my  learned  conductor  to  the  archbishop  of  Goa. 
We  found  him  reading  the  Latin  letters  of  St. 
Francis  Xavier.  On  my  adverting  to  the  long  dura- 
lion  of  the  city  of  Goa,  while  other  cities  of  Euro- 
peans in  India  had  suffered  from  war  or  revolution, 
the  archbishop  observed  that  the  preservation  of 
Goa  was  'owing  to  the  prayers  of  St.  Francis  Xa- 
vier.' The  inquisitor  looked  at  me,  to  see  what  I 
thought  of  this  sentiment.  I  acknowledged  that 
Xavier  was  considered  by  the  learned  among  the 
English  to  have  been  a  great  man.  What  he  wrote 
himself  bespeaks  him  a  man  of  learning,  of  origi- 
nal genius,  and  great  fortitude  of  mind ;  but  what 
others  have  written  for  him  and  of  him  has  tarnish- 
ed his  fame,  by  making  him  the  inventor  of  fables. 
The  archbishop  signified  his  assent.  He  afterwards 
conducted  me  to  his  private  chapel,  which  is  deco- 
rated with  images  of  silver,  and  then  into  the  archi- 
episcopal  library,  which  possesses  a  valuable  collec- 
tion of  books.  As  I  passed  through  our  convent,  in 
returning  from  the  archbishop's,  I  observed  among 
the  paintings  in  the  cloisters  a  portrait  of  the  famous 
Alexis  de  iMenezes,  archbishop  of  Goa,  who  held 
the  synod  of  Diamper,  near  Cochin,  in  1599,  and 
burned  the  books  of  the  Syrian  christians.     From 

Buchanan.  <ji 


362  MEMOIR    OF    DR.    BUCHANAN. 

the  inscription  underneath  I  learned  that  he  was 
the  founder  of  the  magnificent  church  and  convent 
in  which  I  am  now  residing. 

"  On  the  same  day  I  received  an  invitation  to  dine 
with  the  chief  inquisitor,  at  his  house  in  the  coun- 
try. The  second  inquisitor  accompanied  jne,  and 
we  found  a  respectable  company  of  priests  and  a 
sumptuous  entertainment.  In  the  library  of  the  chief 
inquisitor  I  saw  a  register,  containing  the  present 
establishment  of  the  inquisition  at  Goa,  and  the 
names  of  all  the  officers.  On  asking  the  chief  inqui- 
sitor whether  the  establishment  was  as  extensive 
as  formerly,  he  said  it  was  nearly  the  same.  I  had 
hitherto  said  little  to  any  person  concerning  the  in- 
quisition, but  I  had  indirectly  gleaned  much  infor- 
mation concerning  it,  not  only  from  the  inquisitors 
themselves,  but  from  certain  priests  whom  I  visited 
at  their  respective  convents  ;  particularly  from  a 
father  in  the  Franciscan  convent,  who  had  himself 
repeatedly  witnessed  an  Auto  da  Fe." 

"  Goa,  Augustinian  Convent,  Jan.  26,  1808. 
*'  On  Sunday,  after  divine  service,  which  I  at- 
tended, we  looked  over  together  the  prayers  and 
portions  of  Scripture  for  the  day,  v/hich  led  to  a  dis- 
cussion concerning  some  of  the  doctrines  of  Christi- 
anity. We  then  read  the  third  chapter  of  St.  John's 
Gospel  in  the  Latin  Vulgate.  I  asked  the  inquisitor 
whether  he  believed  in  the  influence  of  the  Spirit 


CHRISTIAN'    RESEARCHES.  363 

there  spoken  of.  He  distinctly  admitted  it;  con- 
jointly however,  he  thought,  in  some  obscure  sense, 
with  icater.  I  observed  that  water  was  merely  an 
emblem  of  the  purifying  effects  of  the  Spirit,  and 
could  be  but  an  emblem.  We  next  adverted 
to  the  expression  of  St.  John,  in  his  first  Epis- 
tle :  '  This  is  he  that  came  by  ivater  and  hlood, 
even  Jesus  Christ :  not  by  water  only,  but  by 
water  and  blood:' — blood  to  atone  for  sin,  and 
water  to  purify  the  heart;  justification  and  sanctifi- 
cation  :  both  of  which  were  expressed  at  the  same 
moment  on  the  cross.  The  inquisitor  was  pleased 
with  the  subject.  I  referred  to  the  evangelical  doc- 
trines of  Augustin,  (we  were  now  in  the  Augustin- 
ian  convent,)  plainly  asserted  by  that  father  in  a 
thousand  places,  and  he  acknowledged  their  truth. 
I  then  asked  him  in  what  important  doctrine  he 
differed  from  the  protestant  church  ]  He  confessed 
that  he  never  had  a  theological  discussion  with  a 
protestant  before.  By  an  easy  transition  we  passed 
to  the  importance  of  the  Bible  itself  to  illuminate 
the  priests  and  people.  I  noticed  to  him,  that  after 
looking  through  the  colleges  and  schools,  there  ap- 
peared to  me  to  be  a  total  eclipse  of  scriptural  light. 
He  acknowledged  that  religion  and  learning  were 
truly  in  a  degraded  state.  I  had  visited  the  theolo- 
gical schools,  and  at  every  place  I  expressed  my 
surprise  to  the  tutors,  in  presence  of  the  pupils,  at 
the  absence  of  the  Bible,  and  almost  total  want  of 


364  MEMOIR    OF    DR.    BUCHANAN. 

reference  to  it.  They  pleaded  the  custom  of  the 
place  and  the  scarcity  of  copies  of  the  book  itself. 
Some  of  the  younger  priests  came  to  me  afterwards, 
desiring  to  know  by  what  means  they  might  pro- 
cure copies.  This  inquiry  for  Bibles  was  like  a  ray 
of  hope  beaming  on  the  walls  of  the  inquisition. 

"I  pass  an  hour  sometimes  in  the  spacious  li- 
brary of  the  Augustinian  convent.  There  are  many 
rare  volumes,  but  they  are  chiefly  theological,  and 
almost  all  of  the  sixteenth  century.  There  are  few 
classics,  and  I  have  not  yet  seen  one  copy  of  the 
original  Scriptures  in  Hebrew  or  Greek." 

"  GoA,  Augustinian  Convent,  Jan.  27,  1808. 

"  On  the  second  morning  after  my  arrival  I  was 
surprised  by  my  host,  the  inquisitor,  coming  into 
my  apartment  clothed  in  black  rohes  from  head  to 
foot ;  for  the  usual  dress  of  his  order  is  white.  He 
said  he  was  going  to  sit  on  the  tribunal  of  the  holy 
office.  '  I  presume,  father^  your  august  office  does 
not  occupy  much  of  your  time.*  '  Yes,'  answered 
he,  '  much.  I  sit  on  the  tribunal  three  or  four  days 
every  week.' 

"  I  had  thought,  for  some  days,  of  putting  Del- 
Ion's  book  into  the  inquisitor's  hands  ;  for  if  I  could 
get  him  to  advert  to  the  facts  stated  in  that  book,  I 
should  be  able  to  learn,  by  comparison,  the  exact 
state  of  the  inquisition  at  the  present  time.  In  the 
evening  he  came  in,  as  usual,  to  pass  an  hour  iti 


CIIRISTIAX    RESEARCHES.  365 

my  apartment.  After  some  conversation  I  took  the 
pen  in  my  hand  to  write  a  few  notes  in  my  journal ; 
and,  as  if  to  amuse  him  while  I  was  writing,  I  took 
up  Dellon's  book,  which  was  lying  with  some  others 
on  the  table,  and  handing  it  across  to  him,  asked 
him  if  he  had  ever  seen  it.  It  was  in  the  French 
language,  which  he  understood  well.  '  Relation  de 
rinquisition  de  Goa,'  pronounced  he,  with  a  slow 
articulate  voice.  He  had  never  seen  it  before,  and 
began  to  read  with  eagerness.  He  had  not  proceed- 
ed far  before  he  betrayed  evident  symptoms  of  un- 
easiness. He  turned  hastily  to  the  middle  of  the 
book  and  then  to  the  end,  and  then  ran  over  the 
table  of  contents  at  the  beginning,  as  if  to  ascertain 
the  full  extent  of  the  evil.  He  then  composed  him- 
self to  read,  while  I  continued  to  write.  He  turned 
over  the  pages  with  rapidity ;  and  when  he  came 
to  a  certain  place,  he  exclaimed,  in  the  broad  Ita- 
lian accent, '  Mendaciura,  mendacium  !'*  I  request- 
ed he  would  mark  those  passages  which  were  un- 
true, and  we  should  discuss  them  afterwards,  for 
that  I  had  other  books  on  the  subject.  '  Other 
books  !'  said  he,  and  he  looked  with  an  inquiring 
eye  on  those  on  the  table.  He  continued  readiilg 
till  it  was  time  to  retire  to  rest,  and  then  begged  to 
take  the  book  with  him. 
"  It  was  on  this  night  that  a  circumstance  happen- 

•  It  is  false. 
31» 


366  MEMOm    OF    DR.    BUCHANAN. 

ed  which  caused  ray  first  alarm  at  Goa.  My  ser- 
vants slept  every  night  at  ray  chamber  door,  in 
the  long  gallery  which  is  common  to  all  the  apart- 
ments, and  not  far  distant  from  the  servants  of  the 
convent.  About  midnight  I  was  waked  by  loud 
shrieks  and  expressions  of  terror  from  some  per- 
son in  the  gallery.  In  the  first  moment  of  surprise 
I  concluded  it  must  be  the  Alguazils  of  the  holy 
office  seizing  my  servants  to  carry  them  to  the  in- 
quisition. But,  on  going  out,  I  saw  ray  own  ser- 
vants standing  at  the  door,  and  the  person  who  had 
caused  the  alarm  (a  boy  of  about  fourteen)  at  a  lit- 
tle distance  surrounded  by  some  of  the  priests,  who 
had  come  out  of  their  cells  on  hearing  the  noise. 
The  boy  said  he  had  seen  a  sjjcctre,  and  it  was  a 
considerable  time  before  the  agitations  of  his  body 
and  voice  subsided.  Next  morning  at  breakfast  the 
inquisitor  apologized  for  the  disturbance,  and  said 
the  boy's  alarm  proceeded  from  a  '  phantasma  ani- 
mi,'  a  phantasm  of  the  imagination. 

"After  breakfast  we  resumed  the  subject  of  the 
inquisition.  The  inquisitor  admitted  that  Dellon's 
descriptions  of  the  dungeons,  of  the  torture,  of  the 
mode  of  trial,  and  of  the  Auto  da  Fe  v/ere,  in  gene- 
ral, just ;  but  he  said  the  writer  judged  untruly 
of  the  motives  of  the  inquisitors,  and  very  unchar- 
itably of  the  character  of  the  holy  church  ;  and  I 
admitted  that,  under  the  pressure  of  his  peculiar 
suffering,  this  raight  possibly  be  the  case.  The  in- 
quisitor was  now  anxious  to  know  to  what  extent 


CHRISTIAN    RESEARCHES.  3G7 

Dellon's  Look  had  been  circulated  in  Europe.  1 
told  him  that  Picart  had  published  to  the  world  ex 
I  racls  from  it,  in  his  celebrated  work  called  '  Reli- 
gious Ceremonies  ;'  together  with  plates  of  the  sys- 
tem of  torture  and  burnings  at  the  Auto  da  Fe.  I 
added  that  it  was  now  generally  believed  in  Eu- 
rope that  these  enormities  no  longer  existed,  and 
that  the  inquisition  itself  had  been  totally  suppress- 
ed ;  but  that  I  was  concerned  to  find  that  this  was 
not  the  case.  He  now  began  a  grave  narration  to 
show  that  the  inquisition  had  undergone  a  change 
in  some  respects,  and  that  its  terrors  were  miti- 
gated.* 

♦"  The  following  were  the  passages  in  Mr.  Dellon's  narra- 
tive to  which  I  wished  particularly  to  draw  the  attention  of 
the  inquisitor.  Mr.  D.  had  been  thrown  into  the  inquisi- 
tion at  Goa  and  confined  in  a  dungeon  ten  feet  square, 
where  he  remained  upwards  of  two  years  without  seeing 
any  person  but  the  gaoler  who  brought  him  his  victuals,  ex- 
cept when  he  was  brought  to  his  trial,  expecting  daily  to 
be  brought  to  the  stake.  His  alleged  crime  was,  charging 
the  inquisition  with  cruelty,  in  a  conversation  he  had  with 
a  priest  at  Daman,  another  part  of  India. 

"  '  During  the  months  of  November  and  December  I  heard 
every  morning  the  shrieks  of  the  unfortunate  victims  who 
were  undergoing  the  question.  I  remembered  to  have  heard, 
before  I  was  cast  into  prison,  that  the  Auto  da  Fe  was  gen- 
erally celebrated  on  the  first  Sunday  in  Advent,  because  on 
that  day  is  read  in  the  churches  that  part  of  the  Gospel  in 
which  mention  is  made  of  the  last  judgment ;  and  the  in- 
quisitors pretend  by  this  ceremony  to  exhibit  a  lively  em- 
blem of  that  awful  event.  I  was  likewise  convinced  that 
there  were  a  great  number  of  prisoners  besides  myself,  the 


363  MEMOIR    OF    DR.    BUCHANAxX. 

"  I  had  already  discovered,  from  written  or  print- 
ed documents,  that  the  inquisition  of  Goa  was 
suppressed  by. royal  edict  in  the  year  1775,  and 

profound  silence  which  reigned  within  the  walls  of  the 
building  having  enabled  me  to  count  the  number  of  doors 
which  were  opened  at  the  hours  of  meals.  However,  the 
first  and  second  Sundays  of  Advent  passed  by  without  my 
hearing  of  any  thing,  and  I  prepared  to  undergo  another 
year  of  melancholy  captivity,  when  I  was  aroused  from  my 
despair  on  the  11th  of  January  by  the  noise  of  the  guards 
removing  the  bars  from  the  doors  of  my  prison.  The  Al- 
caide presented  me  with  a  habit,  which  he  ordered  me  to 
put  on,  and  to  make  myself  ready  to  attend  him  when  he 
should  come  again.  Thus  saying,  he  left  a  lighted  lamp  in 
my  dungeon.  The  guards  returned  about  tvvo  o'clock  in 
the  morning,  and  led  me  out  into  a  long  gallery,  where  I 
found  a  number  of  the  companions  of  my  fate  drawn  up 
in  a  rank  against  a  wall.  I  placed  myself  among  the  rest, 
and  several  more  soon  joined  the  melancholy  band.  The 
profound  silence  and  stillness  caused  them  to  resemble  sta- 
tues more  than  the  animated  bodies  of  human  creatures. 
The  women,  who  were  clothed  in  a  similar  manner,  were 
placed  in  a  neighboring  gallery,  where  we  could  not  see 
them  ;  but  I  remarked  that  a  number  of  persons  stood  by 
themselves  at  some  distance,  attended  by  others  who  wore 
long  black  dresses,  and  who  walked  backwards  and  for- 
wards occasionally.  I  did  not  then  know  who  these  were ; 
but  I  was  afterwards  informed  that  the  former  were  the 
victims  who  were  condemned  to  be  burned,  and  the  others 
were  their  confessors. 

'"After  we  were  all  ranged  against  the  wall  of  this 
gallery,  we  received  each  a  large  wax  taper.  They  then 
brought  us  a  number  of  dresses  made  of  yellow  cloth,  with 
the  cross  of  St.  Andrew  painted  before  and  behind.  This 
is  called  the  San  Benito.    The  relapsed  heretics  wear  an- 


CHRISTIAN    RESEARCHES.  369 

established  again  in  1770.  The  Franciscan  father 
before  mentioned  witnessed  the  annual  Auto  da 
Fe,  from   1770  to  1775.     *  It  was   the  humanity 

other  species  of  robe,  called  the  Sarnarra,  the  ground  cf 
which  is  gray.  The  portrait  of  the  sufferer  is  painted  up- 
on it,  placed  upon  Imrning  torches,  with  flames  and  de- 
mons all  round.  Caps  were  then  produced  called  carr/7r/kZ5, 
made  of  pasteboard,  pointed  like  sugar-loaves,  all  covered 
over  with  devils  and  flames  of  fire. 

•'  •  The  great  bell  of  the  cathedral  began  to  ring  a  little  be- 
fore sunrise,  which  served  as  a  signal  to  warn  the  people  of 
Qoa  to  come  and  behold  the  august  ceremony  of  the  Auto 
da  Fe  ;  and  then  they  made  us  proceed  from  the  gallery 
one  by  one.  I  remarked  as  we  passed  into  the  great  hall, 
that  the  inquisitor  was  sitting  at  the  door  with  his  secretary 
by  him,  and  that  he  delivered  every  prisoner  into  the  hands 
of  a  particular  person  who  is  to  be  his  guard  to  the  place 
of  burning.  These  persons  are  called  Parrians,  or  god- 
fathers. My  godfather  was  commander  of  a  ship.  I  went 
forth  with  him,  and  as  soon  as  we  were  in  the  street,  I  saw 
that  the  procession  was  commenced  by  the  Dominican 
Friars  ;  who  have  this  honor,  because  St.  Dominic  found- 
ed the  inquisition.  These  are  followed  by  the  prisoners,  who 
walk  one  after  the  other,  each  having  his  godfather  by  his 
side  and  a  lighted  taper  in  his  hand.  The  least  guilty  go 
foremost  :  and  as  I  did  not  pas?  for  one  of  them,  there  were 
many  who  took  precedence  of  me.  The  women  were  mixed 
promiscuously  with  the  men.  We  all  walked  barefoot,  and 
the  sharp  stones  of  the  streets  of  Goa  wounded  my  tender 
feet,  and  caused  the  blood  to  stream  ;  for  they  made  us 
march  through  the  chief  streets  of  the  city  :  and  we  were 
regarded  every  where  by  an  innumerable  crowd  of  people, 
who  had  assembled  from  all  parts  of  India  to  behold  this 
spectacle ;  for  the  inquisition  takes  care  to  announce  it 
long  before,  in  the  mast  remote  parishes.     At  length  we  ar- 


370  MEMOIPw   OF    DR.    BUCHANAN. 

and  tender  mercy  of  a  good  king,'  said  the  old 
father,  '  which  abolished  the  inquisition.'  But  im- 
mediately on  his  death  the  power  of  the  priests 

rived  at  the  church  of  St.  Francis,  which  was,  for  this  time, 
destined  for  the  celebration  of  the  act  of  faith.  On  one 
side  of  the  altar  was  the  grand  inquisitor  and  his  counsel- 
lors, and  on  the  other  the  viceroy  of  Goa  and  his  court. 
All  the  prisoners  are  seated  to  hear  a  sermon.  I  observed 
that  those  prisoners  who  wore  the  horrible  carrochas  came 
in  last  in  the  procession.  One  of  the  Augustin  monks  as- 
cended the  pulpit,  and  preached  for  a  quarter  of  an  hour. 
The  sermon  being  concluded,  two  readers  went  up  to  the 
pulpit,  one  after  the  other,  and  read  the  sentences  of  the 
prisoners.  My  joy  was  extreme  when  I  heard  that  my 
sentence  was  not  to  be  burnt,  but  to  be  a  galley  slave  for 
five  years.  After  the  sentences  were  read,  they  summoned 
forth  those  miserable  victims  who  were  destined  to  be  im- 
molated by  the  holy  inquisition.  The  images  of  the  here- 
tics who  had  died  in  prison  were  brought  up  at  the  same 
time,  their  bones  being  contained  in  small  chests  covered 
with  flames  and  demons;  An  officer  of  the  secular  tribu- 
nal now  came  forward  and  seized  these  unhappy  people, 
after  they  had  each  received  a  slight  blow  upon  the  breast 
from  the  Alcaide,  to  intimate  that  they  were  abandoned. 
They  were  then  led  away  to  the  bank  of  the  river,  where 
the  viceroy  and  his  court  were  assembled,  and  where  the 
faggots  had  been  prepared  the  preceding  day.  As  soon  as 
they  arrive  at  this  place,  the  condemned  persons  are  asked 
in  what  religion  they  choose  to  die  ;  and  the  moment  they 
have  replied  to  this  question  the  executioner  seizes  them 
and  binds  them  to  the  stake  in  the  midst  of  the  faggots. 
The  day  after  the  execution  the  portraits  of  the  dead  are 
carried  to  the  church  of  the  Dominicans.  The  heads  only 
are  represented,  (which  are  generally  very  accurately 
drawn:  for  the  inquisition  keeps  excellent  limners  for  the 


CHRISTIAN    RESEARCHES  371 

acquired  the  ascendant  under  the  queen  dowa- 
ger, and  the  tribunal  was  re-established,  after  a 
bloodless  interval  of  five  years.  It  has  continued 
in  operation  ever  since.  It  was  restored  in  1779, 
subject  to  certain  restrictions,  the  chief  of  which 
are  the  two  following,  '  that  a  greater  number  of 
witnesses  should  be  required  to  cofivict  a  criminal 
than  were  before  necessary ;'  and  '  that  the  Auto 
da  Fe  should  not  be  held  publicly  as  before ;  but 
that  the  sentences  of  the  tribunal  should  be  execu- 
ted privately  within  the  walls  of  the  inquisition.' 
"  In  this  particular  the  constitution  of  the  new 
inquisition  is  more  reprehensible  than  that  of  the 
old  one  ;  for,  as  the  old  father  expressed  it,  '  Nunc 
sigillum  non  revelat  inquisitio.'*  Formerly  the 
friends  of  those  unfortunate  persons  who  were 
thrown  into  its  prison  had  the  melancholy  satisfac- 
tion of  seeing  them  once  a  year  walking  in  the  pro- 
cession of  the  Auto  da  Fe ;  or,  if  they  were  con- 
demned to  die,  they  witnessed  their  death,  and 
mourned  for  the  dead.  But  now  they  have  no  means 
of  learning,  for  years,  whether  they  be  dead  or  alive. 
The  policy  of  this  new  code  of  concealment  appears 
to  be  this,  to  preserve  the  power  of  the  inquisition, 
and  at  the  same  time  to  lessen  the  public  odium  of 
its  proceedings  in  the  presence  of  British  dominion 

purpose,)  surrounded  by  flames  and  demons ;  and  under' 
neath  is  the  name  and  crime  of  the  person  who  has  been 
burned."     Rr.Mion  dt  V Inquisition de  Goa,  chap.  xxiv. 
♦  The  inquisition  is  now  secret. 


372  MF.MOia   OP   DR.    BUCHANAN. 

and  civilization.  I  asked  the  father  his  opinion  con* 
cerning  the  nature  and  frequency  of  the  punish- 
ments within  the  walls.  He  said  he  possessed  no 
certain  means  of  giving  a  satisfactory  answer ;  that 
every  thing  transacted  there  was  declared  to  be 
'  sacrum  et  secretum.'*  But  this  he  knew  to  be 
true,  that  there  were  continually  captives  in  the 
dungeons ;  that  some  of  them  are  liberated  after 
long  confinement,  but  that  they  never  speak  after- 
wards of  what  passed  within  the  place.  He  added, 
that,  of  all  the  persons  he  had  known  who  had  been 
liberated,  he  never  knew  one  who  did  not  carry 
about  with  him  what  might  be  called  '  the  mark  of 
the  inquisition ;'  that  is  to  say,  who  did  not  show, 
in  the  solemnity  of  his  countenance,  or  in  his  pecu- 
liar demeanor,  or  his  terror  of  the  priests,  that  he 
had  been  in  that  dreadful  place. 

"  The  chief  argument  of  the  inquisitor  to  prove 
-the  melioration  of  the  inquisition  was  the  superior 
humanity  of  the  inquisitors.  I  remarked  that  I  did 
not  doubt  the  humanity  of  the  existing  officers  j  but 
what  availed  humanity  in  an  inquisitor  1  he  must 
pronounce  sentence  according  to  the  laws  of  the 
tribunal,  which  are  notorious  enough ;  and  a  le- 
lapsed  heretic  must  be  burned  in  the  flames  or  con« 
fined  for  life  in  a  dungeon,  whether  the  inquisitor 
be  humane  or  not.  But  if,  said  I,  you  would  satisfy 

•  Sacred  and  secret 


CHRISTIAN    RESEARCHES.  373 

my  mind  completely  on  this  subject,  '  show  me  the 
inquisition.'  He  said  it  was  not  permitted  to  any 
person  to  see  the  inquisition.  I  observed,  that  mine 
might  be  considered  as  a  peculiar  case  ;  that  the 
character  of  the  inquisition  and  the  expediency  of 
its  longer  continuance  had  been  called  in  question  ; 
that  I  had  myself  written  on  the  civilization  of  In- 
dia, and  might  possibly  publish  something  more 
upon  that  subject,  and  that  it  could  not  be  expected 
that  I  should  pass  over  the  inquisition  without  no- 
tice, knowing  what  I  did  of  its  proceedings  ;  but  at 
the  same  time  I  should  not  wish  to  state  a  single 
fact  without  liis  authority,  or  at  least  his  admission 
of  its  truth.  I  added,  that  he  himself  had  been 
pleased  to  communicate  with  me  very  fully  on  the 
subject ;  and  that  in  all  our  discussions  we  had  been 
actuated,  I  hoped,  by  a  good  purpose.  The  coun- 
tenance of  the  inquisitor  evidently  altered  on  re- 
ceiving this  intimation,  nor  did  it  ever  after  wholly 
regain  its  wonted  frankness  and  placidity.  After 
some  hesitation,  however,  he  said  he  would  take 
me  with  him  to  the  inquisition  the  next  day.  I  was 
a  good  deal  surprised  at  this  acquiescence  of  the 
inquisitor,  but  I  did  not  know  what  was  in  his  mind. 
Next  morning,  after  breakfast,  my  host  went  to 
dress  for  the  holy  office,  and  soon  returned  in  his 
inquisitorial  robes.  He  said  he  would  go  half  an 
hour  before  the  usual  time,  for  the  purpose  of  show- 
ing me  the  inquisition.     The  buildings  are  about  a 

Buchanan.  ^^ 


374  MEMOIR    OF    DR.    BUCHANAN. 

quarter  of  a  mile  distant  from  the  convent,  and  we 
proceeded  thither  in  our  manjeeU*  On  our  arrival 
at  the  place,  the  inquisitor  said  to  me,  as  we  were 
ascending  the  steps  of  the  outer  stair,  that  he  hoped 
I  should  be  satisfied  with  a  transient  view  of  the 
inquisition,  and  that  I  would  retire  whenever  he 
should  desire  it.  I  took  this  as  a  good  omen,  and 
followed  my  conductor  with  tolerable  confidence. 

"  He  led  me  first  to  the  great  hall  of  the  inquisi- 
tion. We  v/ere  met  at  the  door  by  a  number  of 
well  dressed  persons,  who,  I  afterwards  understood, 
were  the  familiars  and  attendants  of  the  holy  office. 
They  bowed  very  low  to  the  inquisitor  and  looked 
with  surprise  at  me.  The  great  hall  is  the  place  in 
which  the  prisoners  are  marshalled  for  the  proces- 
sion of  the  Auto  da  Fe.  At  the  procession  described 
by  Delion,  in  which  he  himself  walked  barefoot, 
clothed  with  the  painted  garment,  there  were  up- 
wards of  one  hundred  and  fifty  prisoners.  I  tra- 
versed this  hall  for  some  time,  with  a  slow  step,  re- 
flecting on  its  former  scenes,  the  inquisitor  walking 
by  my  side  in  silence.  I  thought  of  the  fate  of  the 
multitude  of  my  fellow-creatures  who  had  passed 

*  The  manjeel  is  a  kind  of  palankeen  common  at  Goa; 
It  is  merely  a  sea  cot  suspended  from  a  bamboo,  which  is 
borne  on  the  heads  of  four  men.  Sometimes  a  footman  runs 
before,  having  a  staff  in  his  hand,  to  which  are  attached 
little  bells  or  rings,  which  he  jingles  as  he  runs,  keeping 
lime  with  the  motion  of  the  bearers. 


CHRISTIAN    RESEAECHES.  375 

through  this  place,  condemned  by  a  tribunal  of  their 
fellow-sinners,  their  bodies  devoted  to  the  flames 
and  their  souls  to  perdition  ;  and  I  could  not  help  . 
saying  to  him, '  Would  not  the  holy  church  wish,  in 
her  mercy,  to  have  those  souls  back  again,  that  she 
might  allow  them  a  little  further  probation  V  The 
inquisitor  answered  nothing,  but  beckoned  me  to 
go  with  him  to  a  door  at  one  end  of  the  hall.  By 
this  door  he  conducted  me  to  some  small  rooms, 
and  thence  to  the  spacious  apartments  of  the  chief 
inquisitor.  Having  surveyed  these,  he  brought  me 
back  again  to  the  great  hall ;  and  I  thought  he 
seemed  now  desirous  that  I  should  depart. 

"  '  Now,  father,'  said  I,  *  lead  me  to  the  dungeons 
below  ;  I  want  to  see  the  captives.'  '  No,'  said  he, 
'  that  cannot  be.'  I  now  began  to  suspect  that  it 
had  been  in  the  mind  of  the  inquisitor,  from  the  be- 
ginning,  to  show  me  only  a  certain  part  of  the  in- 
quisition, in  the  hope  of  satisfying  my  inquiries  in 
a  general  way.  I  urged  him  with  earnestness,  but 
he  steadily  resisted,  and  seemed  to  be  offended,  or 
rather  agitated,  by  my  importunity.  I  intimated  to 
him  plainly,  that  the  only  way  to  do  justice  to  his 
own  assertions  and  arguments  regarding  the  pre- 
sent state  of  the  inquisition,  was  to  show  me  the 
prisons  and  the  captives.  I  should  then  describe 
only  what  I  saw  ;  but  now  the  subject  was  left  in 
awful  obscurity.  *  Lead  me  down,'  said  I,  '  to  the 
inner  building,  and  let  me  pass  through  the  two 


376  MEMOIR    OF    DR.    BUCHANAX. 

hundred  dungeons,  ten  feet  square,  described  by 
your  former  captives.  Let  me  count  the  number  of 
your  present  captives  and  converse  with  them.  I 
want  to  see  if  there  be  any  subjects  of  the  British 
government  to  whom  we  owe  protection.  I  want 
to  ask  how  long  they  have  been  here,  how  long  it 
is  since  they  beheld  the  light  of  the  sun,  and  whe- 
ther they  ever  expect  to  see  it  again.  Show  me  the 
chamber  of  torture;  and  declare  what  modes  of 
execution  or  of  punishment  are  now  practised 
within  the  walls  of  the  inquisition  in  lieu  of  the 
public  Auto  da  Fe.  If,  after  all  that  has  passed,  fa- 
ther, you  resist  this  reasonable  request,  I  shall  be 
justified  in  believing  that  you  are  afraid  of  expos- 
ing the  real  state  of  the  inquisition  in  India.'  To 
these  observations  the  inquisitor  made  no  reply, 
but  seemed  impatient  that  I  should  withdraw.  *  My 
good  father,*  said  I,  *  I  am  about  to  take  my  leave 
of  you,  and  to  thank  you  for  your  hospitable  atten- 
tions, (it  had  been  before  understood  that  I  should 
take  my  final  leave  at  the  door  of  the  inquisition, 
after  having  seen  the  interior,)  and  I  wish  always 
to  preserve  on  my  mind  a  favorable  sentiment  of 
your  kindness  and  candor.  You  cannot,  you  say, 
show  me  the  captives  and  the  dungeons ;  be  pleased 
then  merely  to  answer  this  question,  for  I  shall  be- 
lieve your  word  :  How  many  prisoners  are  there 
now  below  in  the  cells  of  the  inquisition  V  The  in- 
quisitor replied,  '  That  is  a  question  which  I  cannot 


CHRISTIAN    RESEARCHES.  377 

answer.'  On  his  pronouncing  these  words  I  retired 
hastily  towards  the  door,  and  wished  him  lareweU. 
We  shook  hands  with  as  much  cordiality  as  we 
could  at  the  moment  assume  ;  and  both  of  us,  I  be- 
lieve, were  sony  that  our  parting  took  place  with  a 
clouded  countenance. 

"  From  the  inquisition  I  went  to  the  place  of 
burning  in  the  Campo  Santo  Lazaro,  on  the  river 
side,  where  the  victims  were  brought  to  the  stake 
at  the  Auto  da  Fe.  It  is  close  to  the  palace,  that 
the  viceroy  and  his  court  may  witness  the  execu- 
tion ;  for  it  has  ever  been  the  policy  of  the  inquisi- 
tion to  make  these  spiritual  executions  appear  to  be 
the  executions  of  the  state.  An  old  priest  accompa- 
nied me,  who  pointed  out  the  place  and  described 
the  scene.  As  I  passed  over  this  melancholy  plain, 
I  thought  on  the  difference  between  the  pure  and 
benign  doctrine  which  was  first  preached  to  India 
in  the  apostolic  age,  and  that  bloody  code  which, 
after  a  long  night  of  darkness,  was  announced  to  it 
under  the  same  name  !  And  I  pondered  on  the 
mysterious  dispensation  which  permitted  the  minis- 
ters of  the  inquisition,  with  their  racks  and  flames, 
to  visit  these  lands  before  the  heralds  of  the  Gospel 
of  peace.  But  the  most  painful  reflection  was,  that 
this  tribunal  should  yet  exist,  unawed  by  the  vici- 
nity of  British  humanity  and  dominion.  I  was  not 
satisfied  with  what  1  had  seen  or  said  at  the  inqui- 
sition and  I  determined  to  go  back  again.  The  in- 
32* 


378  MEMOIR    OP   DR.    BUCHANAN. 

quisitors  were  now  sitting  on  the  tribunal,  and  I  had 
some  excuse  for  returning ;  for  I  was  to  receive 
from  the  chief  inquisitor  a  letter,  which  he  said  he 
would  give  me  before  I  left  the  place,  for  the  Bri- 
tish resident  in  Travancore,  being  an  answer  to  a 
letter  from  that  officer. 

"  When  I  arrived  at  the  inquisition,  and  had  as- 
cended the  outer  stairs,  the  door-keepers  surveyed 
me  doubtingly,  but  suffered  me  to  pass,  supposing 
that  I  had  returned  by  permission  and  appointment 
of  the  inquisitor.  I  entered  the  great  hall,  and  went 
up  directly  towards  the  tribunal  of  the  inquisition, 
described  by  Dellou,  in  which  is  the  lofty  crucifix. 
I  sat  down  on  a  form  and  wrote  some  notes,  and 
then  desired  one  of  the  attendants  to  carry  in  ray 
name  to  the  inquisitor.  As  I  walked  up  the  hall  I 
saw  a  poor  woman  fitting  by  herself,  on  a  bench  by 
the  wall,  apparently  in  a  disconsolate  state  of  mind. 
She  clasped  her  hands  as  I  passed,  and  gave  me  a 
look  expressive  of  her  distress.  This  sight  chilled 
ray  spirits.  The  familiars  told  me  she  was  waiting 
there  to  be  called  up  before  the  tribunal  of  the  in- 
quisition. While  I  was  asking  questions  concerning 
her  crime,  the  second  inquisitor  came  out  in  evident 
trepidation,  and  was  about  to  complain  of  the  intru- 
sion, when  I  informed  him  I  had  come  back  for  the 
letter  from  the  chief  inquisitor.  He  said  it  should 
be  sent  after  me  to  Goa,  and  he  conducted  me  with 
a  quick  step  towards  the  door.    As  we  passed  the 


CHRISTIAN    RESEARCHES.  379 

poor  woman  I  pointed  to  her,  and  said  to  him,  with 
some  emphasis,  '  Behold,  father,  another  victim  of 
the  holy  inquisition!'  He  answered  nothing.  When 
we  anived  at  the  head  of  the  great  stair  he  bowed, 
and  I  took  my  last  leave  of  Josephus  a  Doloribus 
without  uttering  a  word. 

"  The  foregoing  particulars  concerning  the  inqui- 
sition at  Goa  are  detailed  chiefly  with  this  view  : 
that  the  English  nation  may  consider  whether  there 
be  sufficient  ground  for  presenting  a  remonstrance 
to  the  Portuguese  government  on  the  longer  conti- 
nuance of  that  tribunal  in  India  ;  it  being  notorious 
that  a  great  part  of  the  Romanists  are  now  under 
British  protection. '  The  Romans,' says  Montesquieu, 

*  deserved  well  of  human  nature,  for  making  it  an 
article  in  their  treaty  with  the  Carthaginians,  that 
they  should  abstain  from  sacrificing  their  children  to 
their  gods.'  It  has  been  lately  obser^'ed  by  respect- 
able writers,  that  the  English  nation  ought  to  imi- 
tate this  example,  and  endeavor  to  induce  her  allies 

*  to  abolish  the  human  sacrifices  of  the  inquisition;* 
and  a  censure  is  passed  on  our  government  for  their 
indifference  to  this  subject.*  The  indifference  to  the 
inquisition  is  attributable,  we  believe,  to  the  same 
cause  which  has  produced  an  indifference  to  the  re- 
ligious principles  which  first  organized  the  incjuisi- 
tion.  The  mighty  despot  who  suppressed  the  inqui- 

♦  Edinburgh  Review,  No.  XXXII.  p.  449. 


3S0  MEMOIR    OF    DR.    BUCHAXAN. 

sition  in  Spain  was  not  swayed  probably  by  very 
powerful  motives  of  humanity,  but  viewed  with 
jealousy  a  tribunal  which  usurped  an  independent 
dominion ;  and  he  put  it  down  on  the  same  princi- 
ple that  he  put  down  the  popedom,  that  he  might 
remain  pontiff  and  grand  inquisitor  himself.  And 
so  he  will  remain  for  a  time,  till  the  purposes  of  pro- 
vidence shall  have  been  accomplished  by  him.  But 
are  we  to  look  on  in  silence,  and  to  expect  that  fur- 
ther meliorations  in  human  society  are  to  be  effect- 
ed by  despotism,  or  by  great  revolutions  1  '  If,'  say 
the  same  authors,  '  while  the  inquisition  is  destroy- 
ed in  Europe  by  the  power  of  despotism,  we  could 
entertain  the  hope,  and  it  is  not  too  much  to  enter- 
tain such  a  hope,  that  the  power  of  liberty  is  about 
to  destroy  it  in  America  ;  we  might  even,  amid  the 
gloom  that  surrounds  us,  congratulate  our  fellow- 
creatures  on  one  of  the  most  remarkable  periods  in 
the  history  of  the  progress  of  human  society,  the 
FINAL  ERASURE  of  the  inquisitionJ'ro/71  the  fact  of  the 
earth.^  It  will  indeed  be  an  important  and  happy 
day  to  the  earth,  when  this  final  erasure  shall  take 
place ;  but  the  period  of  such  an  event  is  nearer,  I 
apprehend,  in  Europe  and  America,  than  it  is  in 
Asia ;  and  its  termination  in  Asia  depends  as  much 
on  Great  Britain  as  on  Portugal.  And  shall  not 
Great  Britain  do  her  part  to  hasten  this  desirable 
time  \  Do  we  wait,  as  if  to  see  whether  the  power 
of  infidelity  will  abolish  the  other  inquisitions  of  the 


CHRISTIAN    RESEARCHES.  381 

earth  1  Shall  not  we,  in  the  meanwhile,  attempt  to 
do  something,  on  Christian  principles,  for  the  honor 
of  God  and  of  humanity  1  Do  we  dread  even  to  ex- 
press a  sentiment  on  the  subject  in  our  legislative 
assemblies,  or  to  notice  it  in  our  treaties  1  It  is 
surely  our  duty  to  declare  our  wishes,  at  least,  for 
the  abolition  of  these  inhuman  tribunals,  (since  we 
take  an  active  part  in  promoting  the  welfare  of 
other  nations,)  and  to  deliver  our  testimony  against 
them  in  the  presence  of  Europe. 

"  This  case  is  not  unlike  that  of  the  immolation 
of  females  ;  with  this  aggravation  in  regard  to  the 
latter,  that  the  rite  is  perpetrated  in  our  own  teni- 
tories.  Our  humanity  revolts  at  the  occasional  de- 
scription of  the  enormity ;  but  the  matter  comes 
not  to  our  own  business  and  bosoms,  and  we  fail 
even  to  insinuate  our  disapprobation  of  the  deed.  It 
may  be  concluded  then,  that  while  we  remain  silent 
and  unmoved  spectators  of  the  flames  of  the  widow's 
pile,  there  is  no  hope  that  we  shall  be  justly  affected 
by  the  reported  horrors  of  the  inquisition.* 

*'  Goa  will  probably  remain  the  theological  school 
to  a  great  part  of  India,  for  a  long  period  to  come. 
It  is  of  vast  importance  to  the  interests  of  Chris- 
tianity in  the  East,  that  this  source  of  instruction 
should  be  purified.     The  appointed  instrument  for 

*  The  Lord  be  praised,  that,  even  before  Dr.  Buchanan's 
appeal  reached  Britain,  this  horrible  inquisition  was  abo- 
lished. 


382  MEMOIR    OF   DR.    BUCHANAN. 

effecting  this  is  the  Bible.  This  is  '  the  salt  which 
must  be  thrown  into  the  fountain  to  heal  the  waters.* 
There  are  upwards  of  three  thousand  priests  be- 
longing to  Goa,  who  are  resident  at  the  place,  or 
stationed  with  their  cures  at  a  distance.  Let  U3 
send  the  holy  Scriptures  to  illuminate  the  priests  of 
Goa.  It  was  distinctly  expressed  to  the  author,  by 
several  authorities,  that  they  would  gladly  receive 
copies  of  the  Latin  and  Portuguese  Vulgate  Bible 
from  the  hands  of  the  English  nation. 

In  concluding  the  narrative  of  his  '*  Christian 
Researches,"  Dr.  Buchanan  says,  "  the  author  has 
found  his  mind  frequently  drawn  to  consider  the 
extraordinary  difference  of  opinion  which  exists 
among  men  of  learning  in  regard  to  the  importance 
and  obligation  of  communicating  religious  know- 
ledge to  our  fellow-creatures.  And  he  has  often 
heard  the  question  asked  by  others.  What  can  be 
the  cause  of  this  discrepancy  of  opinion  1  For  that 
such  a  difference  does  exist  is  most  evident ;  and' 
is  exemplified  at  this  moment  in  some  of  the  most 
illustrious  characters  for  rank  and  learning  in  the 
nation.  This  is  a  problem  of  a  very  interesting 
character  at  this  day,  and  worthy  of  a  distinct  and 
ample  discussion,  particularly  at  the  seats  of  learn- 
ing. The  problem  may  be  thus  expressed  :  '  What 
/power  is  that  which  produces  in  the  minds  of  some 
persons  a  real  interest  and  concern  in  the  welfare 
of  their   fellow- creatures ;  extending  not   only  to 


CHRISTIAN    RESEARCHES.  3S3 

the  comfort  of  their  existence  in  this  world,  but  to 
their  felicity  hereafter ;  while  other  men  who  are 
apparently  in  similar  circumstances  as  to  learning 
and  information,  do  not  feel  inclined  to  move  one 
step  for  the  promotion  of  such  objects  ]'  The  latter, 
it  may  be,  can  speculate  on  the  philosophy  of  the 
human  mind,  on  its  great  powers  and  high  dignity, 
on  the  sublime  virtue  of  universal  benevolence,  on 
the  tyranny  of  superstition,  and  the  slavery  of  ig- 
norance :  and  will  sometimes  quote  the  verse  of  the 
poet, 

"Homo  sum  :  huniani  nil  a  me  alienum  puto  :"♦ 

but  they  leave  it  to  others,  and  generally  to  the 
christian  in  humble  life,  to  exercise  the  spirit  of 
that  noble  verse.  This  is  a  very  difficult  problem  ; 
and  it  has  been  alleged  by  some  that  it  cannot  be 
solved  on  any  known  principles  of  philosophy. 

"  It  can  only  be  solved  by  the  practical  regard 
paid  to  the  last  charge  of  HIM  *  who  ascended  up 
on  high  :'  Go,  teach  all  natimis.  Hence  proceeds  the 
new  and  extended  benevolence,  gieatness  of  mind, 
and  pure  and  heavenly  charity,  which  distinguish 
that  man  whose  heart  has  been  impressed  by  the 
grace  of  God.  How  solemn  his  sense  of  duty  ! 
How  ardent  to  declare  the  glory  of  his  Saviour ! 
His  views  for  the  good  of  men,  how  disinterested 
and  enlarged  !     It  is  but  too  evident  that  all  our 

♦I  am  a  man,  and  have  the  claims  of  humanity. 


384  MEMOIR   OP    DR.   BUCHANAN. 


Bpeculations  concerning  a  divine  revelation,  atiJ 
the  obligation  imposed  on  us  to  study  it  ourselves  or 
communicate  it  to  others,  are  cold  and  uninterest- 
ing, and  excite  not  to  action,  *  until,  through  the 
tender  compassion  of  God,  the  Day-spring  from  on 
high  visit  us,  to  give  light  to  them  that  sit  in  dark- 
ness ;'  to  humble  our  hearts  at  the  remembrance 
of  our  sins  against  God,  and  to  affect  them  with  a 
just  admiration  of  his  pardoning  mercy." 


1 


CHAPTER  XII. 


€lo6ing  labors  in  India-^Hetur-.i  to  JSngland* 

Dr.  Buchanan,  having  completed  his  first  and 
principal  tour  on  the  Malabar  coast,  sailed  from 
Cochin  on  the  6th  of  February,  1S07,  and  arrived 
safely  at  Calcutta  on  the  15th  of  March.  On  his 
return  he  found  that  the  College  of  Fort  William, 
which  had  flourished  nearly  seven  years,  during 
which  period  it  had  been  productive  of  the  most 
important  benefits  both  to  the  service  of  the  East 
India  Company  and  to  oriental  learning  and  reli- 
gion, had  been  reduced  within  very  narrow  limits 
on  the  first  of  January.  The  offices  of  Provost 
and  Vice-Provost  were  abolished,  and  the  profes- 
sorships restricted  to  three  :  viz.  the  Hindostanee, 


AT    CALCUTTA.  3S5 

Bengalee,  and  Perso- Arabic ;  it  being  intended 
that  the  students  should  only  be  attached  to  it,  on 
an  average,  for  a  single  year. 

The  public  letter  of  the  Court  of  Directors  which 
conveyed  this  order  was  dated  in  May,  and  reach- 
ed Calcutta  in  December,  1S06.  On  its  arrival  Mr. 
Brown,  deeply  impressed  with  the  importance  of 
the  moral  discipline  which  had  hitherto  been  ex- 
ercised in  the  College  of  Fort  William,  and  which 
was  now  superseded,  felt  it  to  be  his  duty  to  sub- 
mit his  sentiments  upon  the  subject  to  the  Gover- 
nor General,  and  accompanied  his  representations 
-with  the  offer  of  continuing  to  superintend  the  in- 
stitution, and,  if  that  were  deemed  necessary,  to 
officiate  without  salary. 

In  making  this  communication  to  Sir  George 
Barlow,  Mr.  Brown  referred  to  his  highly  esteemed 
colleague,  Dr.  Buchanan,  as  follows  : 

"  1  particularly  regret  that  there  should  be  a 
necessity  for  any  material  change  during  the  ab- 
sence of  the  Vice-Provost,  without  his  concurrence 
or  knowledge,  from  consideration  of  his  having, 
throughout,  so  eminently  devoted  his  superior  ta- 
lents, with  the  utmost  zeal  and  by  every  exertion, 
for  the  benefit  of  the  public  service  in  the  success 
of  the  college.  In  his  absence  I  take  it  upon  me 
to  communicate  faithfully  my  thoughts,  and  to  sub- 
mit them,  with  respect  and  deference,  to  the  consi- 
deration of  the  honorable  the  Governor  General." 

Buchanan.  Ou 


386  MEMOIR    OF    DR.    BUCHANANi 

Sir  George  Barlow,  on  receiving  the  represen- 
tation and  offer  of  Mr.  Brown  just  referred  to,  ex 
pressed  himself  deeply  struck  and  gratified  by  his 
philanthropy  and  disinterestedness,  and  assured 
him  that  "  he  should  consider  of  his  proposal."  No 
farther  notice  of  it,  however,  appears  to  have  been 
taken  ;  but  the  new  modification  of  the  college 
immediately  took  place,  and  the  offices  of  Provost 
and  Vice-Provost  were  accordingly  abolished. 

The  labors,  the  influence,  and  the  income  of  Dr. 
Buchanan  were,  in  consequence  of  this  arrange- 
ment, materially  diminished.  The  reduction  of  the 
former  was  not  only  grateful  to  his  taste  and  incli- 
nation, but  necessary  to  his  health  ;  while  that  of 
the  latter  affected  him  only  as  it  tended  to  abridge 
his  means  and  opportunities  of  usefulness.  The 
subject  occurs  but  once  in  his  various  correspon- 
dence with  his  friends,  and  is  then  stated  merely 
as  a  matter  of  information,  in  which  he  did  not 
seem  to  be  particularly  interested. 

His  grand  object  was  the  promotion  of  Christi- 
anity in  India.  This  he  had  kept  steadily  in  view 
during  the  period  of  his  Vice-Provostship ;  for  this, 
us  we  have  already  seen,  he  made  some  provision 
when  anticipating  its  abolition  ;  and  it  was  in  pur- 
suance of  the  same  important  object  that  he  under- 
took the  extensive  journey  through  which  we  have 
lately  accompanied  him. 

During  his  voyage,  or  immediately  after  his  re- 


AT    CALCUTTA. 


387 


turn  to  Calcutta,  Dr.  Buchanan  had  drawn  up  a 
paper,  under  the  title  of  "  Literary  Intelligence," 
containing  a  sketch  of  his  proceedings  on  the  coast 
of  Malabar,  which  he  was  desirous  of  publishing 
both  at  Madras  and  Calcutta,  for  the  information 
of  those  who  were  interested  in  the  promotion  of 
christian  knowledge  in  India.  To  the  great  sur- 
prise, however,  of  Dr.  Buchanan,  and  of  many  of 
the  most  learned  and  respectable  persons' at  both 
Presidencies,  it  was  not  thought  expedient  to  per- 
mit such  a  publication  to  be  inserted  in  the  govern- 
ment gazette.  It  was,  in  consequence,  printed  and 
circulated  in  a  different  form ;  and,  without  pro- 
ducing any  of  the  ill  effects  which  some  had  antici- 
pated, it  conveyed  intelligence  which  was  as  grati- 
fying to  the  friends  of  learning  and  religion  in  In- 
dia as  the  same  information  afterwards  proved  to 
persons  of  a  similar  character  in  England.* 

Of  the  several  objects  of  Dr.  Buchanan's  tour,  it 
was  stated  to  be  one,  to  discover  fit  instruments  for 
the  promotion  of  learning,  and  for  the  dissemina- 
tion of  the  Scriptures  in  India.  It  may  now  be  ob- 
served, that  it  was  in  the  course  of  his  journey  that 

*  The  *'  Literary  Intelligence  "  appears,  however,  to  have 
been  admitted  into  the  Bombay  Gazette,  by  which  means  it 
reached  Eurooe.  It  was  afterwards  published  in  England 
by  the  late  Bishop  Porieus.  See  Dr.  Buchanan's  Apology 
lor  Promoting  Christianity  in  India,  p.  87;  and  Owen's 
History  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Societv.  vol.  i. 
p.  320. 


38S  MEMOIR    OF    DR.    BUCHANAN. 

he  first  thought  of  a  plan  which  might  effectually 
accomplish  that  object.  The  reader  will  probably 
recollect  the  meditation  of  Dr.  Buchanan  on  the 
banks  of  the  Chilka  Lake,  where,  on  the  morning  of 
the  Sabbath,  while  reflecting  on  the  painful  scene 
which  he  had  just  witnessed,  with  the  lofty  tower  of 
Juggernaut  still  in  distant  view,  he  conceived  the 
design  of  a"  Christian  Institution  "  which  might 
gradually  counteract,  and  at  length  extinguish  the 
idolatry  of  the  eastern  world.  The  historian  of  the 
Decline  and  Fall  of  the  Roman  Empire  informs  us 
that  he  first  conceived  the  thought  of  his  elaborate 
and  eloquent  work  amidst  the  ruins  of  the  capitol.  It 
was  an  association  of  a  more  sublime  and  sacred  na- 
ture which  suggested  to  Dr.  Buchanan  the  design 
of  the  institution,  the  general  plan  of  which  he  then 
briefly  described.  Soon  after  his  return  to  Calcutta 
he  employed  himself  in  digesting  and  arranging  its 
form  and  constitution  :  its  title  was,  "  The  Christian 
Institution  in  the  East,  or  the  College  for  translat- 
ing the  Holy  Scriptures  into  the  Oriental  Tongues." 
It  was  dedicated  to  all  good  men,  to  be  an  instru- 
ment in  their  hands  of  extending  the  knowledge 
of  revealed  religion  by  the  translation  of  the  holy 
Scriptures,  and  was  placed  under  the  immediate 
patronage  of  the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  as 
President  of  the  Society  for  the  Propagation  of 
the  Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts,  and  of  the  Society  for 
promoting  Christian  Knowledge.    One  of  its  sub- 


AT    CALCUTTA.  3S9 

ordinate  objects  was  to  print  small  tracts  on  ceitaia 
branches  of  art  and  science,  fitted  for  popular  use 
and  improvement. 

The  various  instruments  of  the  institution  were 
next  enumerated,  comprising  the  venerable  bishop 
«jf  the  Syrian  church  in  Malayala ;  the  British  and 
Danish  missionaries  throughout  India  ;  Judah  Mis- 
rahi,  a  learned  Jevi'  of  Cochin,  engaged  by  Dr.  Bu- 
chanan as  a  translator  of  the  New  Testament  into 
Hebrew ;  Professor  Lassar  for  the  Chinese  lan- 
guage ;  and  the  late  Rev.  Henry  Martyn,  with  two 
learned  coadjutors,  natives  of  the  East,  for  the  Per- 
sian, Arabic,  and  Hhidostanee  languages.  With  the 
exception  of  Mr.  Martyn,  who  arrived  at  Calcutta 
during  the  absence  of  Dr.  Buchanan,  he  stated  that 
he  had  visited  all  the  before-named  persons  at  their 
respective  residences,  and  had  informed  himself  as 
to  their  abilities  and  principles. 

It  was  not  intended  to  form  an  expensive  esta- 
blishment ;  but  that  a  professor  should  be  stationetl, 
as  a  literary  agent  of  the  college,  in  each  of  the  prin- 
cipal provinces  of  the  East,  to  study  a  particular  lan- 
guage, to  collect  information,  to  correspond  with 
the  society  at  home,  to  compose  and  to  print  books, 
and  to  instruct  the  natives  in  printing.  The  literary 
agents  were  in  general  to  be  paid  for  ivorh  done  ; 
that  is,  for  translations  or  for  printing  previously 
agreed  for  and  faithfully  executed.  Care  was  also 
to  be  taken  that,  in  cases  where  t.ranslalions  of  the 
33* 


390  MEMOIR    OF    DR.    BUCHANAN. 

Scriptures  should  be  intrusted  to  the  members  of 
any  paiticular  sect,  their  exclusive  tenets  should 
not  find  admission  into  the  work. 

Dr.  Buchanan  proposed  that  the  name  of  the  in- 
stitution should  not  be  derived  from  any  church  or 
sect  in  Europe,  but  from  the  religion  itself,  the 
knowledge  of  which  it  was  intended  to  diffuse  ;  and 
that  the  instruments  which  it  would  recogjnize  in 
promoting  this  great  design  should  be  of  all  nations. 

He  next  observed  that,  in  order  to  secure  its  re- 
sources from  failure,  and  that  there  might  always 
be  a  copious  supply  of  fit  persons  for  the  work,  it 
was  expedient  that  the  institution  should  possess 
an  organized  body  in  England,  and  that  its  establish- 
ment should  be  sufficiently  respectable  to  attach  to 
it  men  of  rank  and  learning.  The  college  of  the 
Propaganda  at  Rome  owed  its  efficiency  and  per- 
petuity chiefly  to  its  liberal  establishment. 

Dr.  Buchanan  grounded  the  necessity  and  im- 
portance of  this  christian  institution  upon  a  view 
of  the  present  state  of  the  Brahminical  superstition 
at  the  chief  temples  of  the  Hindoos,  and  particu- 
larly at  Juggernaut ;  and  in  order  to  convey  to  his 
readers  in  England  some  idea  of  the  spirit  and  ef- 
fects of  the  religion  of  Brahma,  he  added  some  ex- 
tracts from  the  journal  of  his  visit  to  that  place. 

Provision  was  made  for  the  transmission  of  co- 
pies of  every  work  published  by  the  institution  in 
India  to  certain  libraries  in  Great  Britain;  and  it 


AT    CALCUTTA.  391 

was  stated  thai  thirty-one  volumes  had  accordingly 
been  forwarded  by  the  packet  which  conveyed  the 
work  in  question.  It  was  added  that  Dr.  Buchanan 
would  for  the  present  continue  to  superintend  the 
affairs  of  the  institution. 

Such  is  the  outline  of  the  college  for  oriental  trans- 
latiun  conceived  by  Dr.  Buchanan.  His  intention, 
in  short,  was  to  establish  a  British  Propaganda, 
which,  in  proportion  to  the  extent  of  its  objects, 
should  be  superior  to  that  at  Rome,  the  fame  of 
which  still  survives  in  Asia.  Objections  would  pro- 
bably have  occurred  to  different  persons  with  re- 
spect to  some  cf  the  provisions  of  this  institution  ; 
and  it  was  obviously  never  considered  by  its  author 
as  incapable  of  alteration  and  improvement.  Its  de- 
sign and  general  plan  were  undoubtedly  excellent, 
and  would  probably  have  been  received  with  much 
approbation. 

Upon  its  original  formation,*  Dr.  Buchanan  pro- 
posed to  the  Baptist  missionaries  at  Serampore,  as 
extensively  engaged  in  translating  the  Scriptures, 
that  they  should  accordingly  associate,  merely  in 
that  character,  with  other  fellow-laborers  in  differ- 
ent parts  of  India;  that  the  missionary  pursuits, 
properly  so  called,  and  the  individual  establish- 
ments of  each  society,  should  remain  peculiar  and 
private,  as  before ;  but  that  the  translators  of  the 

•  See  his  Apology  for  promoting  Christianity  in  India, 
p.  70. 


202  MLMOIR   OF   DR.    nroii.WAN. 

Scriptures  should  act  in  concert,  and  maintain  an 
amicable  correspondence  with  each  other,  under 
the  general  direction  of  the  superintendent,  \vh<» 
would  be  responsible  for  the  views  and  proceed- 
ings of  the  institution  at  large.  The  intention  of 
This  proposal  was  clearly  not  to  supersede  the  me- 
ritorious labors  of  the  Baptist  missionaries;  but 
to  render  them  more  effective,  by  incorporating 
them  in  one  great  and  comprehensive  plan  for  the 
same  important  object,  and  by  rescuing  their  ope- 
rations from  the  appearance  of  any  thing  private  or 
sectarian,  and  investing  the  united  labors  of  the 
learned  translators  throughout  India  with  a  more 
public  and  national  character. 

It  may  readily  be  imagined  that  the  society  at 
Serampore  might  feel  some  hesitation,  and  even 
reluctance,  in  acceding  to  this  proposition,  after  the 
publicity  which  Dr.  Buchanan  had  given  to  their 
extensive  plan  of  oriental  translation;  and  it  was, 
perhaps,  expecting  too  much,  that  they  should 
voluntarily  abandon  the  "  vantage  ground  "  which 
they  were  thus  occupying.  However  this  may  be, 
the  Baptist  missionaries  declined  the  proposal ;  and 
the  name  of  "  the  christian  institution  "  was  in  con- 
sequence but  partially  assumed.  The  other  branches 
of  which  it  was  intended  to  be  composed,  includ- 
ing, besides  those  already  named,  one  of  the  most 
distinguished  oriental  scholars  of  the  present  age, 
the  late  learned  and  lamented  Dr.  Levden,  who 


AT    CALCUTTA.  393 

undertook  the  translation  of  the  Scriptures  into  the 
several  dialects  of  the  Malayan  Archipelago,  were 
generally  associated,  after  Dr.  Buchanan's  depart- 
ure from  India,  under  the  superintendence  of  the 
late  Rev.  Mr.  Brown. 

The  "  Christian  Institution  "  was,  however,  car- 
ried but  very  imperfectly  into  execution.  On  the 
arrival  of  the  manuscript  in  England,  though  it  was 
printed  in  pursuance  of  Dr.  Buchanan's  instruc- 
tions, some  of  his  friends,  to  whom  the  work  was 
communicated,  conceived  that  its  publication  was 
inexpedient,  and  might  even  produce  consequences 
injurious  to  the  general  cause  of  Christianity  in  In- 
dia. Under  these  impressions  they  took  upon  them- 
selves to  suppress  the  publication  of  the  work,  more 
especially  as  Dr.  Buchanan  had  announced  his  in- 
tention of  returning  to  this  country  in  the  course  of 
the  following  year.  Their  determination  was  doubt- 
less guided  by  a  sincere  desire  to  promote  the  great 
object  of  his  labors ;  and  it  will  be  seen  that  he 
acquiesced  in  their  judgment. 

It  is  gratifying  to  reflect  that,  though  this  noble 
and  magnificent  design  was  never  carried  fully  in- 
to effect,  the  mere  proposal  and  publication  of  a 
scheme  of  so  much  benevolence,  and  calculated  to 
effect  benefits  so  rich  and  extensive  for  the  heathen 
world,  had  a  tendency  to  enlarge  and  elevate  the 
views  of  christians,  and  was  doubtless  a  means  of 
essentially  promoting  the  cause  of  Christianity  in 
the  East. 


391  MEMOIR    OF   DR.    BUCHANAN.  , 

In  the  course  of  the  ensuing  month  Lord  Minto, 
who  had  long  been  expected,  arrived  as  Governor 
General  in  Bengal.  In  a  letter  to  Colonel  Macau- 
lay,  on  the  17th  of  August,  Dr.  Buchanan  notices  his 
lordship's  good  example,  and  attendance  on  dii'ine 
worship,  and  his  attention  to  himself.  "  He  wishes 
me,"  be  adds,  "  to  communicate  fully  with  him  on 
all  the  subjects  which  he  knows  have  long  engaged 
my  attention." 

Dr.  Buchanan's  next  letter  to  Colonel  Macaulay  i 
is  dated  September  15th,  and  contains  some  inte- 
resting notices  respecting  his  intended  journey  over- 
land to  Europe,  and  the  progress  of  the  Malayalim 
translation  of  the  Scriptures.  It  refers,  however, 
at  the  close,  to  a  painful  subject,  which  is  after- 
wards more  fully  explained. 

'*  My  DEAR  Sir, — I  had  the  pleasure  to  receive 
the  copies  of  your  correspondence  with  government 
regarding  the  discipline  of  the  churches.  Every 
additional  letter  you  write  on  that  subject  is  au 
additional  pin  to  the  tabernacle. 

"  If  I  should  go  by  Persia,  I  am  prepared  to  spend 
twelve  thousand  rupees  in  presents.  But  I  hope 
to  be  able  to  travel  by  the  route  of  Bussorah,  Mo- 
sul, and  Aleppo.  I  proceed  to  Bombay  in  the 
IMetcalfe,  Captain  Isaacke,  who  will  sail  from  this 
place  about  the  10th  or  15th  of  the  next  month, 
October.  If  practicable,  he  will  set  me  down  at 
Cochin.    If  not,  1  shall  first  arrange  mutters  at  Bom- 


AT    CALCUTTA.  ')95 

boy,  and  then  come  down  to  Goa  (which  I  wish 
much  to  visit)  and  to  Cochin. 

"  I  am  greatly  obliged  to  you  for  your  letter  of 
the  2d  of  August,  containing  Colonel  Capper's  sen- 
timents on  a  journey  through  Persia  and  Armenia. 
His  remarks  are  highly  interesting,  and  may  be 
useful  to  me  hereafter.  I  am  more  afraid  of  the 
French  than  of  the  Persians. 

"Within  the  last  few  days  arrived  your  eight 
packets  of  the  holy  Gospels,  translated  into  the 
Malayalim  language.  They  have  been  contempla- 
ted with  mingled  affection  and  admiration  by  the 
missionary  corps.  David  Grant  is  now  employed 
in  reading  them  through,  and  prefixing  the  titles  to 
the  books,  and  numbering  the  chapters  in  English. 
People  wonder  here  at  this  rapid  fruit  of  my  visit 
to  Malayala.    But  yours  is  the  praise,  not  mine. 

"  As  we  have  po  fount  of  Malayalim  types  ready 
cut  in  Bengal,  I  mean  to  take  the  MS.  with  me  to 
Bombay,  and  to  have  it  printed  there  under  the 
superintendence  of  Sir  James  Mackintosh. 

"  The  translators  may  take  their  rest  now  for  a 
little  while.  Until  we  can  ascertain  the  accuracy 
of  the  translation  of  the  Gospels,  we  need  not  pro- 
ceed to  the  Epistles.  You  may  therefore  settle  ac- 
counts with  the  translators.  I  request  you  will  thank 
them  in  my  name  for  what  has  been  done,  and  in- 
form them  that  I  expect  they  will  shortly  resume 
their  operations. 


396  MEMOIR    OF    DR.    BUCHANAN. 

"  I  am  on  the  eve,  I  fear,  of  a  rupture  with  this 
government.  The  cause  is  the  Gospel.  They  are 
endeavoring  to  restrain  the  exertions  of  the  mis- 
sionaries in  Bengal.  I  have  not  yet  interfered ;  and 
I  trust  it  w^ill  not  be  necessary,  for  I  love  peace 
and  not  war,  particularly  at  the  moment  of  my 
leaving  the  country.  But  I  shall  do  my  duty,  and 
leave  the  event  to  God. 

"I  am,  my  dear  sir,  yours  sincerely, 

"  C.  Buchanan." 

On  the  22d  of  September  Dr.  Buchanan  wrote 
to  his  two  daughters.  The  following  passage  from 
his  letter  alludes  to  their  lamented  mother  in  a  pe- 
culiarly affecting  manner  : 

"  I  am  now  about  to  quit  India,  and  to  go  home 
to  see  you.  I  propose  to  leave  Calcutta  in  the  course 
of  next  month.  If  I  find  it  dangerous  to  go  home 
over-land,  I  shall  proceed  from  Bombay  by  sea.  I 
shall  probably  sail  over  those  waters  where  your 
dear  mother  lies.  Do  you  not  know  that  at  the  re- 
surrection of  the  dead  she  will  come  forth  with  a 
*  glorious  body  V  Though  it  be  '  sown  in  dishonor, 
it  is  raised  in  glory.'  Of  this  you  may  read  in  the 
Bible  and  in  the  burial  service.  Your  mother  will 
come  forth  with  a  *  glorious  body  ;*  for  she  was  a 
good  woman,  and  remembered  her  Creator  in  the 
days  of  her  youth.  Perhaps  I  shall  die  too  before  I 
reach  England.  You  ought  therefore  to  pray  that 


AT    CALCUTTA.  397 

God  would  preserve  my  life,  if  it  be  his  will,  (for  I 
desire  to  do  his  will  in  all  things,)  that  I  may  see 
you,  and  show  you  the  affection  of  a  father,  and  re- 
ceive the  affection  of  daughters,  and  lead  you  on- 
ward with  myself  to  that  happy  state  vvhither  your 
mother  is  gone  before  you." 

It  is  gratifying  to  reflect  that  this  affectionate 
and  pious  father  was  permitted  to  realize  the  de- 
lightful prospect  which  he  thus  anticipated.  The 
following  extract  is  from  a  letter  to  Colonel  Macau- 
lay,  dated  October  12  : 

*'  The  attack  I  announced  to  you  in  my  last  has 
not  been  yet  made.  I  wish  you  v/ere  at  my  side 
during  the  storm.  I  have  friends,  but  they  are  not 
soldiers.  I  am  tlie  forlorn  hope,  and  yet  I  have  not 
twelve  men.  Nay,  more,  my  friends  tell  me  I  shall 
certainly  be  killed. 

"  The  assault  however  must  be  made,  but  whe- 
ther by  silent  escalade  at  the  midnight  watch,  or 
by  heavy  and  hot  battery  at  noon-day,  I  have  not 
yet  determined.  I  think  the  latter.  You  shall  hear 
in  a  letter  dated  on  or  about  the  1st  of  November, 
me  vivcjite,  ct  Deo  volcntey  * 

Not  long  after  his  return  from  the  coast  of  Mala- 
bar, Dr.  Buchanan  preached  a  series  of  discourses 

*     If  I  live  and  the  Lord  will. 
Buchanau.  ^4 


39S  MKMOIR    OF    DR.    BUCHANAN'. 

in  the  Presidency  church,  on  the  subject  of  the 
christian  2^>'02)hecics ;  which  proved  so  acceptable 
to  some  of  the  congregation,  that  they  expressed  a 
wish  that  he  would  permit  them  to  be  printed  ;  ob- 
serving that,  as  he  was  about  to  return  to  Europe, 
they  hoped  he  would  bequeath  these  discourses,  as 
a  parting  memorial,  to  his  friends.  To  this  request 
Dr.  Buchanan  acceded,  and  accordingly  made  pre- 
jDarations  for  their  publication.  These  sermons  re- 
lated chiefly  to  the  divine  predictions  concerning 
the  future  universal  propagation  of  the  Gospel,  and 
were  intended  to  excite  the  public  attention  to  that 
important  subject,  as  well  as  to  animate  and  encou- 
rage those  who,  from  the  purest  motives,  were  la- 
boring to  promote  the  knowledge  of  Christianity  in 
India.  Nothing  could  be  more  legitimate  or  lauda- 
ble than  such  a  design,  conducted  as  it  was  by  Dr. 
Buchanan,  not  in  the  spirit  of  violence  and  fanati- 
cism, but  of  calm  discussion  and  reasonable  and 
benevolen-j  exertion.  On  transmitting,  however,  an 
advertisement  to  the  government  gazette,  announc- 
ing the  intended  publication  of  his  discourses,  Dr. 
Buchanan  was  surprised  to  find  that  the  insertion 
of  it  was  refused,  and  that  an  order  had  been  issued 
to  the  printers  of  the  other  newspapers,  forbidding 
them  to  publish  the  obnoxious  notice.  Shortly  after- 
wards he  received  a  letter  from  the  chief  secretary 
to  the  Presidency,  desiring  that  he  would  transmit 
the  manuscript  of  his  sermons  on  the  prophecies  for 


AT    CALCUTTA.  399 

the  inspection  of  government.  To  this  unexpected 
demand  Dr.  Buchanan  gave  no  immediate  answer. 
It  had  long  been  the  subject  of  painful  observa- 
tion to  him,  that  on  the  departure  of  the  Marquis 
Wellesley,  during  whose  administration  the  spirit 
of  promoting  learning  and  religion  in  India  had 
been  general  and  ardent,  a  directly  contrary  dispo- 
sition was  manifested,  as  if  it  had  been  previously 
restrained  by  his  presence.  This  first  appeared  un- 
der the  administration  of  Sir  George  Barlow,  and 
liad  been  acquiring  strength  ever  since.  Lord  Minto 
had  now  assumed  the  supreme  government ;  and 
as  several  measures  were  adopted  which  appeared 
to  Dr.  Buchanan  to  operate  very  unfavorably  for 
the  interests  both  of  learnino:  and  relifjion,  he  deem- 
cd  it  his  duty,  before  he  quitted  Bengal,  to  address 
a  memorial  to  his  lordship,  in  which  he  particularly 
directed  his  attention  to  the  character  and  tendency 
of  those  measures  ;  and,  in  so  doing,  explained  his 
reasons  for  declining  to  comply  with  the  wishes  of 
government  respecting  his  sermons  on  the  prophe- 
cies. The  memorial  was  introduced  to  Lord  Minto 
by  the  following  letter  : 

"  To  the  Right  Honorable  Lord  Minto,  &c.  &c.  &c. 

**  My  Lord, — I  beg  leave  respectfully  to  submit 
to  your  lordship  some  particulars  regarding  the  pre- 
sent state  of  the  christian  relisrion  in  Bens^al,  which 
I  have  thought  it  my  duty  to  communicate  for  your 
lordship's  information  at  this  time. 


400  MEMOIR    OF    DR.    BUCHANAN. 

"  I  trust  you  will  do  me  the  justice  to  believe 
that  it  is  with  the  utmost  reluctance  I  trouble  your 
lordship  with  a  letter  on  such  a  subject  so  soon  af- 
ter your  entrance  on  this  government,  when,  as  yet, 
few,  if  any  of  the  circumstances  noticed  in  it  can 
have  come  to  your  lordship's  knowledge. 

''  I  have  no  other  view  in  soliciting  your  atten- 
tion to  them,  but  the  advancement  of  learning  and 
religion.  Perhaps  no  one  has  addressed  your  lord- 
ship on  the  subject  since  your  arrival ;  and  there 
are  certainly  many  particulars,  regarding  their  pre- 
sent state,  which  it  is  of  importance  your  lordship 
should  know. 

**  Being  about  to  leave  India,  I  feared  lest  I  should 
hereafter  reproach  myself  if  I  withheld  any  thing 
at  this  time  which  I  conceived  might  be  useful,  par- 
ticularly as  I  have  been  farther  encouraged  to  ad- 
dress your  lordship  by  your  known  condescension 
in  receiving  any  communications  which  are  honest- 
ly intended. 

"  I  have  the  honor  to  be,  my  lord,  with  much 
respect,  your  most  obedient  humble  servant, 

"  C.  Buchanan. 

"  Calcutta,  Nov.  9,  1807." 

The  memorial  which  accompanied  the  preceding 
letter,  and  which  was  published  some  years  after- 
wards* by  Dr.  Buchanan,  in  his  own  vindication 

*  See  his  Apology  for  Promoting  Christianity  in  Indix 


AT    CALCUTTA.  401 

and  defence,  evinces,  as  it  has  been  well  observed, 
"  the  temperate  firmness  of  a  man,  who,  knowing 
that  the  Gospel  is  the  power  of  God  unto  salvation, 
is  neither  asliamed  to  profess  nor  afraid  to  defend 
it."  It  is  introduced  by  a  statement  of  the  circum- 
stances  which  have  been  just  mentioned  as  having 
led  to  this  address  to  the  Governor  General.  Dr. 
liuchanan  gave  full  credit  to  the  officers  of  his  lord- 
ship's government,  of  whose  conduct  respecting  the 
christian  religion  he  complained,  that  they  were 
actinnf  according:  to  the  best  of  their  iudofment;  but 

O  CD  JO' 

adds,  with  much  force  and  propriety  of  expression, 
"  not  to  promote  Christianity  may,  in  certain  cir- 
cumstances, be  prudent;  but  to  repress  Christian- 
ity will  not,  I  think,  in  any  case,  be  defended." 

In  reference  to  the  charge  that  the  missionaries 
applied  abusive  epithets  to  Mohammed,  Dr.  Bu- 
chanan says,  ''  The  successful  method  of  preaching 
is  by  argument  and  affectionate  address  ;  and  I  pre- 
sume this  has  been  their  general  method  during 
the  fourteen  years  of  their  mission.  At  the  same 
time  christian  teachers  are  not  to  speak  with  reve- 
rence or  courtesy  of  Juggernaut  or  Mohammed ; 
they  must  speak  as  the  Scriptures  speak ;  that  is, 
of  false  gods  as  false  gods,  and  of  a  lying  prophet 
as  a  lying  prophet.  The  Mohammedans  apply  abu- 
sive epithets  and  vulgar  curses  to  the  idolatry  of  the 
Hindoos  and  to  the  faith  of  Christians  ;  and  these 
epithets  are  contained  in  books  :  the  government 
34* 


402  MEMOIR    OF    DR.    BUCHANAN. 

might,  on  the  same  principle,  have  been  assailed 
with  the  petitions  of  Christians  and  Hindoos  against 
the  Mohammedans. 

The  complaint,  however,  of  the  Mohammedans 
produced  various  restrictions  on  the  proceedings  of 
the  missionaries,  w^hich  were  defended  on  the  plea 
that  the  public  faith  had  been  pledged  to  leave  the 
natives  in  the  undisturbed  exercise  of  their  religions. 
If  by  not  disturbing  the  natives  in  the  exercise  of 
their  religion  it  is  meant  that  we  are  to  use  no 
means  for  diffusing  Christianity  among  them,  then, 
observed  Dr.  Buchanan,  "  this  pledge  has  been  vio- 
lated by  every  government  in  India,  and  has  been 
systematically  broken  by  the  East  India  Company 
from  the  year  1698  to  the  present  time.  The  char- 
ter of  1698  expressly  stipulates  that  they  shall  use 
means  to  instruct  the  Gentoos,  &c.  in  the  christian 
religion.  Nor  in  this  is  there  any  thing  at  variance 
with  the  pledge  in  question.  It  is  a  very  different 
thing  to  apply  arguments  to  the  mind  and  violence 
to  the  body ;  to  civilize  and  humanize,  to  address 
the  understandings  and  affections  of  subjects,  and 
to  interfere  with  their  superstitions  by  compulsory 
acts." 

As  to  his  discourses  on  the  prophecies,  he  had,  at 
the  opening  of  his  memorial,  professed  that  he  would 
willingly  transmit  them  to  the  perusal  of  the  Go- 
vernor General,  and  that  he  should  be  happy  to  re- 
ceive such  observations  on  them  as  his  lordship's 


AT    CALCUTTA.  403 

learning  and  candor  might  suggest ;  but  he  de- 
clined submitting  them  to  the  opinion  and  revision 
of  the  officers  of  government,  especially  as  "it 
would  be  a  bad  precedent.  I  would  not,"  he  says, 
"  that  it  should  be  thought  that  any  where  in  the 
British  dominions  there  exists  any  thing  like  a  civil 
inquisition  into  matters  purely  religious. 

"  It  is  nearly  two  months,"  he  adds,  "  since  I  re- 
ceived the  letter  from  government  on  this  matter, 
and  I  have  not  yet  communicated  my  intentions.  I 
now  beg  leave  to  inform  your  lordship  that  I  do 
not  wish  to  give  government  any  unnecessary  of- 
fence. I  shall  not  publish  the  prophecies. 

''  At  the  same  time  I  beg  leave  most  respectfully 
to  assure  your  lordship  that  I  am  not  in  any  way 
disappointed  by  the  interference  of  government  on 
this  occasion.  The  supposed  suppression  of  the 
christian  prophecies  has  produced  the  consequence 
that  might  be  expected.  The  public  curiosity  has 
been  greatly  excited  to  see  these  prophecies ;  and 
to  draw  the  attention  of  men  to  the  divine  predic- 
tions could  be  the  only  object  I  had  in  view  in  no- 
ticing them  in  the  course  of  my  public  ministry. 
Another  consequence  will  probably  be,  the  prophe- 
cies will  be  translated  into  the  lanoruagres  of  the 
East,  and  thus  pave  the  way,  as  has  sometimes 
happened,  for  their  own  fulfilment." 

Dr.  Buchanan  closed  his  memorial  with  entreat- 
ing Lord  Minto,  in  case  any  circumstance  should 


404  MEMOIR   OF    DR.    BUCHANAN. 

afford  a  pretext  for  renewing  the  attr^^  •:>£  to  sup- 
press the  translation  of  the  Scripturt  s  th??t  ihe 
Chinese  translation,  in  which  he  felt  j)eculiai'y  in- 
terested, might  at  least  be  spared  ;  and  with  ui- 
fering  any  farther  evidence  or  explanation  of  the 
facts  asserted  in  his  letter  which  his  lordship  might 
require.  This  offer,  however,  Lord  Minto  did  not 
condescend  to  accept.  He  did  not  even  honor  Dr. 
Buchanan  with  a  single  word  of  reply.  Instead  of 
considering  the  memorial  as  a  communication  in- 
tended to  inform  his  lordship  on  subjects  with  which 
he  was  likely  to  be  unacquainted,  he  viewed  it  as 
disrespectful  to  his  government,  and  transmitted  it, 
by  the  very  fleet  which  conveyed  Dr.  Buchanan 
himself  to  England,  to  the  Court  of  Directors,  ac- 
companied by  a  commentary,  of  which  Dr.  Bucha- 
nan remained  perfectly  ignorant  till  some  years  af- 
terwards ;  when,  with  many  other  documents  rela- 
tive to  Christianity  in  India,  it  was  laid  upon  the 
table  of  the  House  of  Commons,  and  thus  at- 
tracted his  notice.  The  Bengal  government,  how- 
ever, not  having  thought  proper  to  pay  any  atten- 
tion to  his  memorial,  Dr.  Buchanan  deemed  it  to 
be  his  duty  to  transmit  a  copy  of  it  to  the  Court  of 
Directors,  which  he  did  immediately  before  his  de- 
parture from  Calcutta,  accompanied  by  a  letter,  in 
which  he  expressed  his  hope  that  some  general 
principles  on  the  comparative  importance  of  reli- 
gion in  political  relations  in  India,  might  be  estab- 


AT  CALCUTTA.  405 

lished  at  home,  and  transmitted  to  our  eastern  go- 
vernment for  their  guidance.  Dr.  Buchanan  con- 
cluded his  address  to  the  honorable  court  by  re- 
calling to  their  notice  the  solemn  charge  which  he 
had  received  about  eleven  years  since  from  their 
chairman,  the  late  Sir  Stephen  Lushington,  the  te- 
nor of  which  has  been  already  stated.  "  In  obedi- 
ence to  these  instructions,"  observes  Dr.  Buchanan, 
"  I  have  devoted  myself  much  to  the  advancement 
of  the  christian  religion  and  of  useful  learning 
since  my  anival  in  India ;  using  such  means  as  I 
was  possessed  of,  and  directing  the  opportunities 
which  have  offered  to  the  accomplishment  of  that 
object.  I  am  yet  sensible  that  I  have  fulfilled  very 
imperfectly  the  injunctions  of  your  honorable  court. 
It  suffices,  however,  for  my  own  satisfaction,  if  what 
I  have  done  has  been  well  done ;  that  is,  with  ho- 
nesty of  purpose  and  with  the  sanction  of  truth..  In 
my  exhibition  of  the  religious  and  moral  state  of 
British  India  I  might  have  palliated  the  fact,  and 
presented  a  fair  picture  where  there  was  nothing 
but  deformity  ;  but,  in  so  doing,  I  should  not  have 
done  honor  to  the  spirit  of  the  admonitions  of  your 
venerable  chairman  now  deceased.  And  however 
grateful  it  may  be  for  the  present  moment  to  sup- 
press painful  truths,  yet  as  my  labors  had  chiefly 
reference  to  the  benefit  of  times  to  come,  I  should 
not,  by  such  means,  have  conciliated  the  respect 
of  your  illustrious  body  twenty  years  hence." 


406  MEMOIR    OP    DR.    BUCHANAN. 

Under  these  impressions  Dr.  Buchanan  request- 
ed that  the  court  would  be  pleased  to  investigate 
fully  his  proceedings  with  respect  to  the  promotion 
of  Christianity  in  India,  that  the  company  at  large 
might  be  enabled  justly  to  appreciate  them  ;  and 
that  he  might  be  encouraged  (if  it  should  appear 
that  encouragement  were  due)  to  prosecute  an  un- 
dertaking which  seemed,  he  said,  to  have  com- 
manded the  applause  of  all  good  men,  and  which 
had  certainly  commenced  with  omens  of  consider- 
able success. 

The  preceding  letter  to  the  Court  of  Directors 
was  not  published  with  the  memorial  to  the  go- 
vernment at  Bengal,  nor  does  it  seem  to  have  been 
noticed  by  the  court.  Neither  of  those  addresses, 
however,  though  unacknowledged  at  the  time,  was 
unproductive  of  effect.  In  Bengal  a  more  favorable 
disposition  on  the  part  of  the  government  towards 
the  promotion  of  Christianity  shortly  afterwards 
appeared;  and  the  reply  of  the  Court  of  Directors 
to  the  representations  of  the  Governor  General  in 
council,  though  not  friendly  to  Dr.  Buchanan,  was 
strongly  marked  by  those  enlightened  and  liberal 
views  which  he  had  been  so  anxious  to  see  estab- 
lished for  the  guidance  of  our  Indian  governments. 
The  favorable  change  which  took  place  in  the 
conduct  of  the  Bengal  government  towards  the  mis- 
sion at  Serampore,  is,  however,  chiefly  to  be  as- 
cribed to  the  memorial  presented  by  the  mission- 


AT    CALCUTTA.  407 

aries  themselves  to  the  Governor  General  in  coun- 
cil ;  which,  when  published  a  few  years  afterwards 
in  this  country,  excited  general  admiration. 

The  painful  transaction  which  has  now  been 
detailed  was  nearly  the  last  of  a  public  nature  in 
which  Dr.  Buchanan  was  engaged  in  Calcutta.  The 
time  was  now  approaching  for  his  second  and  final 
departure  from  that  city.  Accordingly,  in  the  month 
of  November,  he  preached  his  farewell  sermon  to 
the  congregation  at  the  mission  church,  from  the 
words  of  St.  Paul  to  the  Philippians,  chap.  1  :  27, 
"  Only  let  your  conversation  be  as  becometh  the 
Gospel  of  Christ ;  that  whether  I  come  and  see  you, 
or  else  be  absent,  I  may  hear  of  your  affairs,  that 
ye  stand  fast  in  one  spirit,  with  one  mind,  striving 
together  for  the  faith  of  the  Gospel."  From  this  ap- 
propriate and  interesting  passage  Dr.  Buchanan 
delivered  a  discourse  remarkable  for  the  import- 
ance of  the  practical  truths  which  it  enforced.  After 
an  introductory  view  of  the  origin  and  progress  of 
the  church  at  Philippi,  Dr.  Buchanan  considered 
the  two  particulars  of  which  the  parting  request  of 
the  apostle  to  his  favorite  converts  consists.  The 
first  respects  the  holy  practice  which  they  were  ex- 
horted to  maintain. 

"  Without  a  highly  moral  conversation,"  observ- 
ed Dr.  Buchanan,  "  a  congregation  of  christians 
cannot  be  said  to  have  substance  or  being ;  for  faith 


408  MEMOIR   OF   DR.    BUCUANAV. 

without  works  is  dead.  Unless  the  world  see  some- 
thing particular  in  your  works,  they  will  give  you 
no  credit  for  your  faith ;  or  rather,  they  will  not 
care  what  your  faith  may  be.  In  such  circumstances 
your  faith  will  give  them  no  trouble.  But  when 
'  wonderful  works '  appear,  they  will  begin  to  ask 
what  '  power  hath  produced  them.'  In  this  very 
epistle  the  apostle  calls  the  christians  at  Philippi 
'  the  sons  of  God,'  and  the  '  lights  of  the  world  ;* 
and  he  expresses  his  hope  that  their  conduct  would 
be  correspondent  with  these  noble  and  distinguish- 
ing appellations." 

"  Now,"  continues  Dr.  Buchanan,  *'  when  this 
light  shineth  to  the  world,  even  the  light  of  a  holy 
life  and  conversation,  it  will  be  manifested  by  these 
two  circumstances  :  First,  it  will  not  be  agreeable 
to  some ;  and,  secondly,  some  will  misrepresent 
your  motives,  or  attach  to  your  conduct  an  evil 
name,  accusing  you  of  hypocrisy  or  of  unnecessary 
strictness.  And  if  no  man  allege  any  thing  of  this 
kind  against  you,  if  the  worst  of  men  make  no  de- 
rogatory remark  on  your  conduct,  then  may  you 
doubt  whether  you  are  walking  in  the  steps  of  the 
faithful  servants  of  Christ.  They  all  were  marked 
out  by  the  world,  as  being  in  a  greater  or  less  de- 
gree singular  and  peculiar  in  their  conduct,  as 
persons  swayed  by  other  principles  and  subject  to 
other  laws.  If  these  things  be  so,  you  will  perceive 
how  little  concerned  you  ought  to  be  about  the 


AT    CALCUTTA.  409 

praise  of  man,  or  the  honor  which  cometh  from  the 
world." 

Dr.  Buchanan  then  proceeded  to  the  second  part 
of  the  apostle's  exhortation  ;  and,  in  urging  the 
duty  of  "  striving  for  the  faith  of  the  Gospel,"  he 
observed,  "  this  will  appear  strange  to  nominal 
christians,  both  preachers  and  hearers.  But  when 
once  a  man's  heart  comes  under  the  influence  of 
the  grace  of  God,  he  will  discover  (perhaps  in  old 
age  for  the  first  time)  that  it  is  his  duty,  and  it  will 
be  his  pleasure,  to  promote  the  faith  of  the  Gospel 
by  every  way ;  by  his  means,  by  his  influence,  by 
his  exhortation,  by  his  example.  Every  tnie  disci- 
ple of  Christ,  however  humble  his  situation  or  pe- 
culiar his  circumstances,  will  find  opportunities  of 
doing  something  for  the  faith  of  the  Gospel.  And, 
indeed,  the  poor  often  enjoy  means  of  usefulness 
which,  from  many  causes,  are  denied  to  their  su- 
periors." 

Dr.  Buchanan  next  directed  the  attention  of  his 
hearers  to  the  apostle's  rule  for  the  successful  pur- 
suit of  this  gieat  object,  ''  that  ye  stand  fast  in  one 
spirit,  with  one  mind — that  they  should  preserve 
unity,  unity  in  the  faith  and  in  the  church ;  and 
then  noticed  the  nature  of  that  faith  for  which  chris- 
tians ought  to  strive.  The  sermon  was  concluded 
by  a  faithful  and  solemn  exhortation  to  the  young 
and  to  the  old,  to  those  who  doubted  as  to  "  the 
true  way,"  to  the  sinner  and  the  saint,  to  strive  to 

CuchaiinD.  *>0 


410  MEMOIR    OF    DR.    BUCHANAN. 

obtain,  and,  having  obtained,  to  adorn  and  recom- 
mend the  faith  of  the  Gospel,  "  It  only  remains," 
added  Dr.  Buchanan,  **  that  I  implore  the  solemn 
benediction  of  God  on  this  congregation. 

"  I  pray  that  the  word  of  Christ  may  'run  and 
be  glorified'  amongst  you;  that  from  this  place,  as 
from  a  fountain,  streams  of  truth  may  flow  far  and 
wide  ;  that  you  may  be  ever  blessed  with  wise  and 
learned  instructors,  '  able  ministers  of  the  New 
Testament,'  who  shall  take  delight  in  dispensing 
the  word  of  life  and  in  tending  the  flock  committed 
to  their  care  ;  and,  finally,  that  the  honor  of  your 
church  may  ever  be  preserved  pure  from  any  stain, 
that  ye  may  uphold  a  conduct  '  blameless  and 
harmless,'  as  examples  to  men,  as  *  the  lights  of  the 
world  :'  striving:  together,  with  one  mind  and  in 
one  spirit,  for  the  faith  of  the  Gospel." 

Such  was  the  simple  but  impressive  strain  in 
which  Dr.  Buchanan  took  leave  of  the  congregation 
which  contained  the  greater  proportion  of  religious 
persons  in  Calcutta.  His  farewell  at  the  Presi- 
dency church  was  probably  of  a  different  nature, 
though  characterized  by  the  same  pastoral  fidelity 
and  practical  wisdom.  There  were,  doubtless,  some 
in  each  congregation  from  whom  he  would  regret 
to  be  separated,  and  many  who  would  lament  his 
departure.  Mr.  Brown  would  particularly  feel  the 
loss  of  his  able  and  affectionate  coadjutor  and  friend, 
with  whom  he  had  taken  "  sweet  counsel "  in  the 


AT  CALCUTTA.  411 

house  of  God,  and  had  shared  the  burthen  and  the 
heat  of  many  a  laboiious  day.  Of  the  sentiments 
entertained  by  this  excellent  man  respectinrr  his 
learned  and  valuable  colleague,  the  following  brief 
extract  from  a  confidential  letter  to  his  brother, 
written  just  as  Dr.  Buchanan  was  on  the  eve  of  his 
departure  from  Calcutta,  will  be  a  sufficient  testi- 
mony : 

"  I  know  no  man  in  the  world  who  excels  him 
in  useful  purpose,  or  deserves  my  friendship  more. 
Perhaps  there  is  no  man  in  the  world  who  loves 
him  so  much  as  1  do,  because  no  man  knows  him 
so  well.  Further,  no  man  I  believe  in  the  world 
would  do  me  service  like  him.  We  have  lived  to- 
gether in  the  closest  intimacy  ten  years,  without  a 
shade  of  difference  in  sentiment,  political  or  reli- 
gious. It  is  needless  to  add,  without  ajar  in  word 
or  deed.  He  is  the  man  to  do  good  in  the  earth, 
and  worthy  of  being  metropolitan  of  the  East." 

The  private  and  unaffected  nature  of  the  letter 
from  which  the  preceding  passage  is  extracted,  the 
well  known  simplicity  and  integrity  of  the  writer's 
character,  and  the  perfect  competency  of  his  testi- 
mony, render  this  warm  and  energetic  tribute  to 
the  merit  of  his  friend  peculiarly  valuable.  To  se- 
parate from  such  a  colleague  must  have  been  a 
subject  of  sincere  regret  to  him.  But,  with  this  and 
a  few  other  exceptions,  Dr.  Buchanan's  ties  to  In- 
dia were  neither  strong  nor  numerous.  The  society 


412  MEMOIR    OF    DR.    BUCHANAN. 

of  Calcutta  is  necessarily  fluctuating.  One  of  the 
most  important  branches  of  his  employment  no 
longer  existed  :  he  had  laid  the  foundation  of  a 
great  work  for  the  promotion  of  Christianity  in 
India,  which  he  could  in  future  more  advantage- 
ously forward  and  defend  in  his  native  country ; 
and  thither  he  felt  attracted  by  the  associations  of 
early  and  maturer  life,  by  filial  duty,  and  paternal 
affection.  For  this  return,  therefore,  after  making^ 
a  variety  of  arrangements  to  ensure  the  continuance 
of  the  works  carrying  on  under  what  he  considered 
to  be  the  ''  Christian  Institution,"  more  particularly 
of  the  Chinese  class  at  Serampore,  he  at  length 
prepared. 

On  the  27th  of  November  Dr.  Buchanan  left  Cal- 
cutta, and  reached  Fulta  the  next  day ;  and  from 
this  place  he  wrote  to  Colonel  Sandys  as  follows : 

**  Dear  Sandys, — I  am  thus  far  on  my  way  to 
Europe.  I  sail  in  the  Baretto  to  Goa,  to  look  into 
the  inquisition  there  and  examine  the  libraries. 
Thence  I  proceed  to  Bombay. 

"  A  few  days  ago  I  received  your  letter  of  the 
28th  of  May,  1807,  dated  from  Northwold,  contain- 
ing the  signatures  of  the  little  girls.  They  write 
very  well,  and  have  made  a  flattering  progress  in 
their  education.  I  am  much  obliged  to  you  for  your 
particular  account  of  the  two  children,  which  is 
very  correct,  I  believe,  and  very  pleasing.    Being 


RETURN    TO    ENGLAND.  413 

long  estranged  from  them,  and  hearing  none  con- 
verse about  them,  I  seldom  think  of  them  now  com- 
23aratively ;  but  when  we  meet  again  I  suppose  we 
shall  fall  in  love. 

"  You  observed,  in  some  of  your  late  letters, 
that  you  heard  I  was  likely  to  be  married  again.  It 
so  happens  that  I  have  not  once  thought  of  it.  It  is 
possible  that  I  may  marry  some  time  after  my  arri- 
val in  England  ;  but  yet  I  would  avoid  it,  for  some 
reasons  :  it  is  a  subject  I  think  not  of. 

"  Instead  of  love  and  marrias^e,  1  am  eno;ag:ed  in 
war  and  fightings.  I  have  been  obliged  to  address 
this  government  publicly  on  its  hostility  to  religion 
and  to  its  progress  in  India.  All  Calcutta  wondered 
what  step  government  would  take.  In  the  midst  of 
this  strange  scene  I  paid  a  farewell  visit  to  them 
all,  and  left  every  creature,  from  the  Governor  Ge- 
neral to  the  pilots,  on  good  terms. 

"  I  have  now  finished  my  labors,  and  pray  that 
God  may  bless  them. 

"  I  have  been  down  here  for  eight  days,  waiting 
the  despatch  of  the  ship.  The  Calcutta  people  have 
not  been  uninterested  in  my  late  contention  with 
the  government ;  and  I  hear  some  of  them  have 
called  a  ship  by  my  name  since  I  came  down  here. 
The  '  Christian  Institution  in  the  East '  is  unknown 
in  Calcutta  to  this  hour,  though  active  in  its  ope- 
ration. "  Yours  affectionately, 

"  C.  Buchanan." 
35* 


414  MEMOIR    OF    DR.    BUCHANAN. 

The  ship  in  which  Dr.  Buchanan  sailed  left  Sau- 
gor  on  the  9th  of  December ;  but  no  memorial  of 
his  voyage  occurs  until  the  23d  of  that  month,  when 
he  wrote  to  Mr.  Brown  as  follows,  from  Columbo, 
in  the  island  of  Ceylon  : 

"  Ceylon  again  !  In  crossing  the  Gulf  of  Manaar 
we  encountered  a  gale  and  put  into  Columbo.  I 
had  requested  the  captain  to  touch  here  when  I  left 
Calcutta,  and  now  he  was  obliged  of  necessity.  I 
have  been  well  on  board  and  well  treated.  Many 
causes  for  thankfulness  as  usual.  The  Adele  was 
taken  by  the  Russell  the  day  before  we  came  up  to 
her,  and  we  had  parted  convoy.  In  the  Gulf  of  Ma- 
naar we  were  about  to  throw  over  our  cargo  when 
the  gale  abated. 

"On  my  arrival  here  many  of  the  chief  persons 
waited  on  me.  From  my  having  touched  last  year 
at  so  many  Dutch  settlements,  I  found  all  the  fami- 
lies knew  me.  I  have  only  been  here  three  days, 
having  arrived  on  Monday  last,  and  the  ship  pro- 
ceeds on  her  voyage  on  Friday.  I  have  some 
thoughts  of  letting  her  go,  and  following  at  my  lei- 
sure ;  for  I  find  there  is  something  for  me  here  to 
do.  What  a  field  for  English,  Dutch,  and  Cingalese 
preachers  in  this  fertile  and  renowned  land  ! 

*'  I  propose  to  proceed  straight  to  Cochin  from 
this  place.  Sir  James  Mackintosh  is  on  the  Malabar 
coast,  I  hear,  with  his  family.  Two  Bombay  civil 


RETURN    TO    ENGLAND.  415 

servants  now  here  wish  me  to  travel  by  land  from 
Cochin  to  Goa.  They  have  been  judges  and  collec- 
tors for  fourteen  years  on  that  coast,  and  allege 
they  know  more  about  the  christians  than  any  other 
persons  in  India.  Tljey  complain  much  of  the  un- 
due influence  of  Goa,  exercised  sometimes  cruelly 
on  all  christians  who  are  not  Catholics.  Mr.  B.  car- 
ries me  out  to-day  to  his  country  house,  to  visit 
some  of  the  Cingalese  christian  churches. 

"  My  affectionate  regards  to  all  your  family." 

By  the  date  of  his  next  letter  Dr.  Buchanan  ap- 
pears to  have  left  the  Baretto,  in  which  he  original- 
ly embarked  from  Calcutta,  and  to  have  exchanged 
that  ship  for  the  Canton  ;  from  which,  on  the  26th 
of  December,  he  thus  wrote  off"  Cochin  to  Colonel 
Macaulay  : 

"  I  had  flattered  myself  with  the  hope  of  being 
landed  here,  but  the  commander  of  the  ship  cannot 
wait,  and  I  am  disappointed.  He  has  engaged  to 
put  me  down  at  Goa,  where  I  propose  to  re- 
main some  time,  and  from  whence  I  shall  write  to 
you  particularly.  I  left  Calcutta  on  the  Sth  inst. 
and  touched  at  Columbo,  where  I  staid  some  days, 
and  found  flattering  assurances  of  support  in  our 
evangelizing  plans  for  that  island.  There  is  less 
prejudice  there  than  in  the  Company's  settlements. 
This  is  the  third  time  that  I  have  visited  Ceylon  ; 


416  MEMOIR   OF    DR.    BUCHANAN. 

SO  that  the  people  begin  to  think  I  have  some  seri- 
ous design  against  them. 

'*  In  my  last  I  believe  I  informed  you  that  I  was 
stand'mg  in  the  breach.  I  have  now  the  pleasure  to 
announce  that  the  battle  has  been  fought.  Long 
consultations  were  held  how  to  proceed  :  it  was  at 
last  decreed  that  I  should  be  permitted  to  depart 
in  peace. 

"  I  have  the  copy  of  the  Malayalim  Scriptures 
with  me,  and  mean  to  print  when  at  Bombay  :  five 
thousand  copies  will  suffice  for  a  beginning,  I 
suppose. 

"  I  hope  to  see  you  before  I  leave  India ;  but  I 
do  not  know  at  this  moment  where  or  how.  May  all 
our  resolves  and  purposes  be  acceptable  to  the  di- 
vine will ! 

"  Mr.  Johnstone,  judge  at  Columbo,  will  furnish 
me  with  some  important  official  documents  relating 
to  the  state  of  Christianity  in  that  island.  The  Go- 
vernor was  absent ;  but  Major  Maitland  (Lord  Lau- 
derdale's son)  came  to  inform  me  that  he  would  re- 
turn in  two  days,  if  I  would  stay  to  see  him.  I  could 
not  stay ;  but  I  communicated  to  him  that,  if  he 
would  give  to  the  Cingalese  translation  of  the 
Scriptures  his  countenance,  I  would  give  money ; 
and  Judge  Johnstone  would  find  instruments.  Mr. 
J.  is  an  excellent  Cingalese  scholar  himself." 

Notwithstanding  the  disappointment  of  which 


RETURN    TO    ENGLAND.  417 

Dr.  Buchanan  expressed  his  expectation  at  1*116 
commencement  of  the  preceding  letter,  we  find 
him  two  days  afterwards  safely  landed  at  Cochin, 
and  under  the  roof  of  his  friend,  Colonel  Macaulay. 
He  thus  writes  to  Mr.  Brown  : 

•'  CocuiN,  Dec.  28,  18C7. 

"  On  the  24th,  Christmas  eve,  we  left  Columbo, 
crossed  the  Gulf  of  Manaar  on  Christmas-day,  and 
arrived  here  on  the  27th,  yesterday.  I  found  all  my 
Jews  .and  Christians  in  fine  health  and  spirits,  and 
highly  gratified  at  my  unexpected  arrival.  1  reside 
with  Colonel  Macaulay.  After  passing  some  time 
in  these  regions  he  accompanies  me  up  the  coast, 
by  land,  through  all  the  christian  territories,  as  far 
as  Cananore,  perhaps  Mangalore,  whence  I  pro- 
ceeded by  sea  to  Goa. 

"  The  Jews  have  lately  had  a  meeting  about  the 
prophecies ;  and  I  am  about  to  call  another  San- 
hedrim on  the  subject  before  I  go.  It  is  a  strange 
event. 

"  I  am  happy  I  have  visited  this  place  a  second 
time.  May  God  direct  all  these  things  to  his  own 
glory  and  to  the  good  of  men  !  I  have  need  of 
watchfulness  and  prayer.  Much  lies  before  me  ere 
I  leave  India  yet,  if  ever  I  leave  it. 

"  Tell  H.  that  the  poor  Jews,  blind,  lame,  and 
halt,  are  come  this  morning,  exclaiming,  as  usual, 
'  Jehuda   Ani.'    I  wish   I    could   impart  a  better 


418  MEMOIR   OF    DR.    BUCHANAN. 

gift  than  silver  or  gold.  The  Rajah  of  Travan- 
core  has  desired  I  will  visit  him.  I  do  not  know 
what  to  do.  The  Rajah  of  Cochin  has  offered  to 
come  over  to  see  me.  Ambassadors  from  the  Syrian 
christians  are  expected  to-morrow." 

On  the  2d  of  January,  180S,  Dr.  Buchanan  left 
Cochin,  accompanied  by  Colonel  Macaulay,  on  a 
second  tour  upon  the  coast  of  Malabar.  On  the  14th 
he  wrote  to  Mr.  Brown,  from  Tellicherry,  an  inte- 
resting account  of  their  progress  ;  and  his  next  let- 
ter to  that  esteemed  friend  is  dated  "  Goa,  25th 
January,  from  the  great  hall  of  the  inquisition."  It 
contains  an  account  of  his  bold  and  interesting  vi- 
sit to  that  metropolis  of  the  Roman  Catholic  reli- 
gion in  the  East,  similar  to  that  already  inserted 
from  his  "  Christian  Researches." 

The  suggestion  in  the  published  extracts  from 
his  journal,  as  to  the  propriety  of  an  interference 
on  the  part  of  the  British  government  with  that  of 
Portugal,  for  the  abolition  of  the  dreadful  tribunal 
of  the  inquisition,  had  been  happily  anticipated,  but 
did  not  render  his  animated  appeal  upon  that  sub- 
ject superfluous  ;  while  his  inquiries  relative  to 
the  moral  and  religious  state  of  the  Romish  and 
Syro-Romish  churches  on  the  coast  of  Malabar  led 
to  efforts  to  disseminate  the  holy  Scriptures,  for 
the  instruction  and  illumination  of  that  numerous 
and  long-neglected  body  of  Christians. 


RETURN   TO    ENGLAND.  419 

*'  In  two  hours  after  leaving  the  inquisition," 
says  Dr.  Buchanan,  in  his  letter  to  Mr.  Brown,  "  I 
reached  New  Goa.  The  alarm  of  ray  investigations 
had  gone  before  me.  The  English  came  to  inquire 
wliat  I  had  seen  and  heard,  and  1  told  them  all.  1 
staid  a  day  or  two  with  them,  and  embarked  in  a 
pattamar  (an  open  boat)  for  Bombay.  The  wind 
was  contrary,  and  I  was  ten  days  on  the  voyage. 
1  touched  at  three  different  places  on  the  Pirate 
coast;  Gheria,  the  celebrated  fort  of  Severndroog, 
&;c.  One  day  we  were  driven  out  to  sea,  and  in  con- 
siderable danger.  At  length,  however,  on  the  6th 
of  February  1  reached  Bombay." 

On  his  arrival  at  this  Presidency  Dr.  Buchanan 
was  kindly  received  by  Governor  Duncan,  and 
took  up  his  abode  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Forbes.  He 
experienced  the  utmost  civility  from  the  principal 
persons  of  the  settlement,  and  was  particularly  gra- 
tified by  the  attentions  of  Sir  James  Mackintosh. 
"  I  passed  five  hours,"  he  observes,  in  a  letter  to 
Colonel  Macaulay,  "  with  Sir  James  in  his  library. 
It  is  uncommonly  numerous  and  valuable.  He  is  a 
friend  to  religion,  and  professes  a  desire  to  support 
me  in  all  useful  plans  for  India." 

Dr.  Buchanan  had  taken  with  him  to  Bombay 
the  manuscript  translation  of  the  four  Gospels  into 
the  Malayalim  language,  which  had  been  completed 
by  the  Syrian  bishop  and  his  clergy,  and  transmit- 
ted to  Colonel  Macaulay,  intending  to  print  it  at 


420  MEMOIR   OF    DR.    BUCHANAN. 

his  own  expense,  an  excellent  fount  of  types  hav- 
ing been  recently  cut  at  that  place.  Governor 
Duncan,  however,  and  others,  expressing  their 
wish  to  contribute  to  the  design,  it  was  left  in  the 
hands  of  Mr.  Money  and  Mr.  Forbes,  with  instruc- 
tions regarding  the  appropriation  of  the  funds  ;  and 
they  were  authorized  to  pay  all  expenses  necessa- 
rily incurred  in  translating  the  Scriptures  into  the 
Malayalim  language. 

"  It  would  take  a  fortnight,"  writes  Dr.  Buchan- 
an to  Colonel  Macaulay,  Feb.  27,  "  to  detail  what 
passed  during  my  fortnight  at  Bombay. 

"  1  have  taken  my  passage  in  the  Charlton,  and 
have  secured  the  first  officer's  cabin,  which  is  large 
and  commodious,  for  myself  and  Master  Drum- 
mond.  We  have  ten  ladies  on  board,  and  Dr.  Pou- 
get,  of  Surat,  a  man  of  information. 

"  Your  friend,  Ribeymar,  the  chief  inquisitor,  re- 
ceived me  very  kindly,  and  made  a  feast  on  the  last 
day  but  one  of  my  stay,  at  which  were  present  the 
whole  staff' of  the  Santa  Casa.  He  said  he  would 
answer  your  letter.  The  *  thieveless  errand'  I  had 
to  visit  the  inquisition  a  second  time,  was  to  in- 
quire whether  the  chief  inquisitor  had  written  his 
letter. 

"  I  did  not  touch  at  Cananore  or  Mangalore.  I 
was  afraid  of  losing  the  inquisition  and  my  passage. 

"  On  my  arrival  in  England  I  shall  not  fail  to 
give  you  some  account  of  affairs,  if  I  mix  with  men, 


RETURN    TO    ENGLAND.  421 

which  I  much  doubt ;  for  I  am  tired  of  fighting, 
and  sigh  for  quiet  and  retirement. 

"  I  remain,  my  dear  sir,  very  sincerely  yours, 

"  C.  Buchanan." 

It  may  be  satisfactory  to  add,  that  the  letter 
from  tlie  chief  inquisitor  to  Colonel  Macaulay,  above 
referred  to,  strongly  expressed  his  respect  for  that 
gentleman,  and  the  pleasure  which  he  had  received 
from  Dr.  Buchanan's  visit,  notwithstanding  the 
freedom  of  his  inquiries  and  observations. 

In  another  short  communication  to  Colonel  Ma- 
caulay, about  the  same  time,  Dr.  Buchanan  men- 
tions a  pleasing  mark  of  kindness  which  had  been 
shown  him  by  one  of  his  friends  at  Calcutta,  and 
informs  him  of  a  proposal  which  he  had  made  rela- 
tive to  one  of  the  most  stupendous  and  interesting 
objects  of  curiosity  in  India. 

"  Mr.  Speke  has  sent  a  beautiful  large  quarto 
Bible  after  me,  as  a  keepsake.  He  had  heard  that  I 
had  complained  of  my  sight  in  reading  small  print 
at  night.  And  this  is  my  last  communication  with 
the  learned  of  Calcutta.  Hoc  Dens  fecit* 

"  I  have  put  them  on  restoring  Elephanta  at 
Bombay.  1  found  the  cavern  and  figures  in  a  state 
of  progressive  annual  dilapidation.  Mr.  Money  has 
taken  up  the  subject  warmly.  If  government  does 
not  execute  it,  I  have  proposed  a  subscription,  with 

♦  This  God  hai>  done, 
Bucbaoan.  36 


422  MEMOIR    OF    DR.    BUCHANAN. 

a  promise  of  five  hundred  rupees  as  soon  as  the 
work  shall  commence  under  a  scientific  superin- 
tendent. I  have  left  a  memorandum  of  the  subjects 
of  improvement  and  re-edification,  according  to  my 
idea.  I  have  a  reason  for  wishing  that  the  Trinity 
in  Unity  at  Elephanta  may  remain  while  this  lower 
world  exists." 

Dr.  Buchanan  thus  adverts  to  the  same  extra- 
ordinary remains  of  antiquity,  in  writing  to  Mr. 
Brown  : 

*' I  have  visited  Elephanta;  a  more  wonderful 
work  than  the  pyramids  of  Egypt.  But  the  works 
of  Providence  are  yet  more  wonderful ;  at  least, 
so  I  should  esteem  them  ;  for,  in  every  region  and 
in  every  clime  the  loving-kindness  of  God  is  mag- 
nified in  my  experience.  May  his  grace  also  be 
magnified  in  me  !    My  love  to  all  your  family.'* 

On  the  13th  of  March  the  Charlton  arrived  ofl' 
Point  de  Galle,  from  which  place  Dr.  Buchanan 
again  wrote  a  few  lines  to  Mr.  Brown. 

"  I  had  intended,"  he  says,  "  to  have  published 
my  letter  to  the  archbishop  of  Goa  at  this  place. 
But  if  we  do  not  go  on  shore  I  shall  have  no  oppoi^ 
tunity.  I  shall  therefore  publish  it  at  home.* 

*  On  his  arrival  in  England  Dr.  Buchanan  found  it  un- 
necessary to  publish  this  letter,  the  inquisition  at  Goa  hav- 
ing been  abolished. 


RETURN    TO    ENGLAND.  423 

"  I  have  extensive  commissions  for  sending  good 
books  and  Bibles  to  Bombay,  Malabar,  and  Ceylon. 
For,  it' they  have  no  preachers,  they  must  read. 

"  All  is  well  on  board  this  ship,  and  I  hope  some 
good  will  be  done. 

"  With  unfeigned  prayers  for  the  best  of  spirit- 
ual blessings  on  you  and  your  family, 

"  I  remain  my  de^r  sir,  very  affectionately  yours, 

"  C.  Buchanan." 

To  Colonel  Macaulay  Dr.  Buchanan  wrote  the 
next  day  as  follows  : 

"  My  Dear  Sir, — We  have  just  arrived  at  this 
place,  and  see  the  Bengal  fleet  ready  to  sail ;  so 
that  I  have  only  time  to  bid  you  farewell.  We  staid 
three  days  at  Columbo,  one  of  which  I  passed  with 
General  Maitland  at  Mount  Lavinia.  After  long 
and  interesting  conversations  he  was  pleased  to 
promise  that  he  would  recommend  to  his  majesty's 
government '  an  ecclesiastical  establishment  for  the 
island  of  Ceylon.*  By  the  next  despatch  he  will 
send  me,  under  cover  to  the  bishop  of  London,  co- 
pies of  all  the  papers  I  wanted  relating  to  the  eccle- 
siastical state  of  the  island  for  the  last  two  centu- 
ries. He  has  agreed  to  support  the  translation  of 
the  Scriptures  into  the  Cingalese  language.  I  re- 
sided with  the  honorable  Mr.  Twisleton,  whom  I 
found  well  disposed  to  second  all  my  views.    Mr. 


424  MEMOIR    OF   DR.    BUCHANAN. 

Heywood  did  more.  I  think  he  is  disposed  to  be 
zealous  as  a  pastor  to  his  people.  I  shall  corres- 
pond, I  hope,  with  both.  They  are  surprised  at 
the  Governor's  full  acquiescence  in  the  above  im- 
portant measures.   I  hope  he  will  not  retract. 

"  I  received  your  letters  for  your  brother,  which 
I  hope  to  deliver  into  his  hands.  I  am  much  obliged 
to  you  for  your  introduction  to  him. 

"  The  fleet  is  now  under  weigh  for  St.  Helena. 
Farewell.  C.  Buchanan." 

"  H.  C.  Charlton,  Point  de  Galle 
March  14,  1808." 


CHAPTER  XHI. 


Hesidence  in  England  after  Ms  Jtetttrn  from  India, 

When  Dr.  Buchanan  arrived  in  England,  as 
mitrht  have  been  expected,  he  immediately  direct- 
ed his  steps  to  the  dwelling  of  his  dear  friend,  Mr. 
Newton ;  but,  alas !  this  venerable  man  was  not 
there  to  salute  him — he  had  been  buried  for 
more  than  seven  months.  His  first  feelings,  there- 
fore, on  reaching  London,  were  of  the  mournful 
kind. 


IN    ExN'GLAND.  425 

Having  calculated  much  upon  the  effect  of  the 
memoir  of  the  "  Christian  Institution  "  which  he 
had  transmitted  to  England  that  it  might  be  pub- 
lished, he  made  his  second  call  to  Cadell,  his  book- 
seller ;  but  here  again  he  was  disappointed  ;  for  it 
now  appeared  that  his  friends,  to  whom  he  had 
communicated  the  document,  had  judged  it  inex- 
pedient, in  the  excited  state  of  the  public  mind  re- 
specting India,  to  publish  it ;  and  had  taken  upon 
themselves  the  responsibility  of  withholding  it  from 
the  press.  Although  he  acquiesced  in  their  act,  yet 
it  was  evidently  no  small  disappointment  to  Dr.  Bu- 
chanan that  this  paper  had  not  been  put  into  the 
hands  of  the  public. 

Having  arrived  on  his  native  island,  he  could  not 
repress  his  desire  to  make  every  consideration  of 
business  or  friendship  give  way  to  his  filial  piety. 
Learning  that  his  aged  mother  still  lived,  he  has- 
tened to  Scotland  to  perform  his  duty  of  honoring 
her  who  gave  him  birth ;  and  who,  on  account  of 
her  piety  and  good  sense,  was  in  all  respects  de- 
serving the  affection  of  her  son.  From  Glasgow, 
while  on  this  visit,  he  writes,  "  I  preached  in  the 
English  church  here  to  a  crowded  auditory.  The 
Presbyterians  came  to  hear  me,  notwithstanding 
the  organ^ 

After  his  return  from  Scotland  he  visited  Mr. 
Cecil,  who  was  now  in  a  low  state  of  health.  Dr. 
Buchanan,  in  giving  an  account  of  this  visit,  in  a 
36* 


426  MEMOIR   OF    DR.    BUCHANAN. 

letter  to  a  friend,  says  :  "  Notwithstanding  his 
weakness,  he  seems  to  feel  a  singular  pleasure  in 
hearing  me  talk  on  oriental  subjects,  and  the  diffu- 
sion of  the  Gospel  generally." 

He  was  greatly  delighted  with  the  apparent  ef- 
fect which  his  prizes  had  produced.  The  premium 
of  c£500,  which  he  had  given  to  the  University  of 
Oxford,  was  adjudged  to  Hugh  Pearson,  the  author 
of  this  memoir. 

In  Cambridge  some  circumstances  occurred  to 
prevent  a  decision.  Doctors  Milner,  Jowett,  and 
Outram,  had  been  appointed  judges  ;  and  of  all  the 
compositions  sent  in,  they  were  of  opinion  that  not 
one  deserved  so  magnificent  a  prize.  But,  a  few 
days  after  the  prescribed  time  had  expired,  t^iey 
received  a  piece,  by  the  Rev.  J.  W.  Cunningham, 
which  they  unanimously  preferred  to  all  the  rest ; 
and  to  which  the  examiners  would,  without  hesi- 
tation, have  adjudged  the  prize,  had  it  been  pre- 
sented within  the  limited  time ;  but,  as  the  matter 
stood,  they  did  not  feel  authorized  to  do  so  with- 
out the  special  permission  of  Dr.  Buchanan.  This 
being  a  case  of  delicacy,  he  did  not  think  proper 
to  make  any  decision  on  the  point ;  but  as  the  uni- 
versity were  unwilling  to  resume  the  consideration 
of  the  subject,  he  offered  to  bear  the  expense  of 
printing  Mr.  Cunningham's  essay. 

Two  sermons  were  preached  at  Cambridge,  by 
the  Rev.  Francis  Wrangham,  of  Trinity  College, 


IN    ENGLAND.  427 

and  the  Rev.  John  Dudley,  of  Clare  Hall,  pur- 
suant to  the  proposal  of  Dr.  Buchanan,  on  the 
"  Translation  of  the  Scriptures  into  the  Oriental 
Languages."  Two  sermons  were  also  preached 
on  the  same  subject  before  the  University  of  Ox- 
ford, by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Barrow,  of  Queen's  College, 
and  the  Rev.  Edward  Nares,  of  Merton  College  ; 
all  of  which  were  published. 

The  authors  of  all  these  discourses  insisted  on 
the  duty  of  translating  the  Scriptures  into  the  lan- 
guages of  the  East ;  and  all  maintained  that  it  was 
obligatory  on  Great  Britain  to  attempt,  by  every 
wise  and  rational  method,  to  promote  the  know- 
ledge of  christia^nity  in  India. 

The  "  Memoir"  on  the  expediency  of  an  Ec- 
clesiastical Establishment  in  India,  produced  a 
powerful  sensation.  The  subject  was  to  many  en- 
tirely new,  and  at  the  same  time  was  regarded  as 
very  important.  Before  his  return  to  England,  a 
hostile  spirit  towards  the  author  had  been  enkindled 
in  the  minds  of  many,  who  considered  the  whole 
enterprise  as  fraught  with  danger  to  the  English 
possessions  and  power  in  the  East.  It  is  a  remarka- 
ble coincidence,  that  at  the  very  time  when  efforts 
were  made  in  India  to  impede  the  translation  of 
the  Scriptures  into  the  dialects  of  the  country,  and 
to  restrain  the  efforts  of  missionaries  there,  a  formi- 
dable attack,  from  the  same  spirit,  was  made  in 
England,  with  a  view  to  check  the  ardor  which  had 


428  MEMOIR    OF    DR.    BUCHANAN. 

been  infused  into  the  minds  of  multitudes  in  favor 
of  both  these  interesting  objects.  This  attack  was 
commenced  by  a  pamphlet  entitled,  *'  A  Letter  to 
the  Chairman  of  the  East  India  Company  on  the 
Danger  of  Interfering  in-the  Religious  Opinions  of 
the  Nations  of  India  ;  and  on  the  Views  of  the  Bri- 
tish and  Foreign  Bible  Society  as  directed  to  India." 
This  pamphlet,  though  published  anonymously, 
was  afterwards  avowed  by  Thomas  Twining,  Esq. 
a  senior  merchant  of  the  Bengal  establishment. 
And  he  declared  his  intention  of  bringinor  the  sub> 
ject  before  the  Court  of  Directors.  The  Bible 
Society  was  ^ly  vindicated  from  the  charges 
brought  against  it,  by  the  Rev.  John  Owen,  one  of 
its  secretaries  ;  and  the  great  work  of  diffusing  the 
Bible  in  India  had  able  advocates  in  the  lamented 
Rev.  Andrew  Fuller,  Rev.  Robert  Hall,  Dr.  Adam 
Clarke,  and  others. 

The  prejudice  and  alarm  which  had  been  excited 
by  Mr.  Twining's  pamphlet  was  increased  by  the 
publication  of  two  pamphlets  by  Major  Scott  War- 
ing, who  inveighed  with  great  violence  of  language 
against  the  Bible  Society,  the  Baptist  missionaries 
in  Bengal,  and  against  the  ''  Memoir"  of  Dr.  Bu- 
chanan. But  the  friends  of  religion  in  England 
were  not  inactive  nor  unsuccessful  in  checking 
this  rising  spirit  of  jealousy  and  hostility,  occa- 
sioned by  these  intemperate  publications. 

This  controversy,  however,  did  not  terminate 


IN    ENGLAND.  429 

here.  In  the  year  1808  it  was  renewed  by  the  pub- 
lication of  a  pamphlet  entitled,  "  A  Vindication  of 
the  Hindoos  from  the  Aspersions  of  the  Rev.  C. 
Buchanan,  M.  A.  wilh  a  Refutation  of  his  Argu- 
ments for  an  Ecclesiastical  Establishment  in  Bri- 
tish India.  By  a  Bengal  Officer."  This  extraordi- 
nary publication  was  distinguished  by  the  bold 
avowal,  that  the  Hindoo  system  little  needs  the 
ameliorating  hand  of  the  christian  dispensation  to 
render  its  votaries  a  sufficiently  correct  and  moral 
people  for  all  the  useful  purposes  of  civilized  so- 
ciety. This  military  author  bent  all  his  force  to 
prove  the  excellence  of  the  moral  and  religious 
doctrines  of  the  Hindoos,  and  to  defend  the  moral 
character  of  the  Hindoos  themselves.  But  with 
great  pretensions,  and  some  partial  knowledge 
of  the  state  of  affairs  in  India,  he  betrayed  much 
local  isrnorance,  and  manifested  a  total  disres^ard 
of  the  practical  influence  of  the  Brahminical  reli- 
gion, and  a  total  deficiency  in  all  enlarged  views 
and  general  reasonings. 

The  friends  of  the  propagation  of  Christianity  in 
the  East  again  came  forward  and  vindicated  the 
cause  of  Christianity  and  of  missions.  The  venera- 
ble Bishop  Porteus  wrote  some  remarks  on  Mr. 
Twining's  pamphlet,  which  were  published  anony- 
mously ;  and  in  which,  in  a  strain  of  animated  and 
well-directed  irony,  he  defended  the  measures  of 
the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  and  what 


430  MEMOIR    OP    DR.    BUCHANAN. 

the  bishop  termed  "  Dr.  Buchanan's  invaluable 
Memoir." 

Next  appeared  Mr.  Cunningham's  essay  "  On 
the  duty,  means,  and  consequences  of  introducing 
the  Christian  Religion  among  the  native  inhabit- 
ants of  the  British  dominions  in  the  East."  This  was 
a  part  of  the  work  which  the  author  had  submitted 
to  the  University  of  Cambridge,  as  a  candidate  for 
Dr.  Buchanan's  prize  ;  of  which  some  account  has 
been  given.  The  main  argument  of  this  able  and 
elaborate  essay  was  founded  on  the  malignant  and 
pernicious  nature  of  the  Hindoo  superstitions. 

Mr.  Cunningham's  essay  was  followed  by  the 
prize  dissertation  of  the  Rev.  Hugh  Pearson,  which 
contributed  in  no  inconsiderable  degree  to  enlight- 
en the  public  mind  on  this  momentous  question. 

One  other  work  remains  to  be  noticed,  of  singu- 
lar excellence  and  authority,  entitled,  "  Considera- 
tions on  the  practicability,  policy,  and  obligation 
of  communicating  to  the  nations  of  India  the  know- 
ledge of  Christianity."  This  was  the  production  of 
Lord  Teignmouth  ;  who,  together  with  the  princi- 
ples of  christian  piety  and  benevolence,  brought  to 
the  consideration  of  this  weighty  subject  that  cor- 
rect and  extensive  local  knowledge  and  practical 
wisdom  and  experience  which  were  the  result  of 
the  high  stations  he  had  occupied  in  India. 

The  important  services  of  one  periodical  publi- 
cation, in  ably  and  effectually  pleading  the  cause 


IN    ENGLAND.  431 

of  Christianity,  ought  not  to-  pass  unnoticed.  It  will 
be  readily  understood,  that  reference  is  made  to 
the  Christian  Ohsfrver. 

Dr.  Buchanan  found  his  two  daughters  well,  and 
so  grown  that  he  could  scarcely  recognize  them. 

It  was  not  long  after  his  arrival  in  England  be- 
fore he  received  some  gratifying  communications 
from  India,  in  a  letter  from  his  friend.  Rev.  Mr. 
Brown.  Governor  Minto,  in  his  speech,  delivered 
at  the  public  examination  of  the  students  of  Fort 
William  College,  Feb.  21, 1S03,  spoke  in  terms  of 
liigh  commendation  of  their  progress  in  oriental 
literature ;  and  especially  gave  high  praise  to  the 
proficiency,  in  the  Chinese  language,  of  the  Baptist 
missionaries  at  Serampore.  "  I  must  not  omit,"  said 
his  lordship,  "  to  commend  the  zealous  and  perse- 
vering labors  of  Mr.  Lassar,  and  of  those  learned 
and  pious  persons  associated  with  him,  who  have 
accomplished,  for  the  future  benefit,  we  may  hope, 
of  that  immense  and  populous  region,  Chinese  ver- 
sions, in  the  Chinese  character,  of  the  Gospels  of 
Matthew,  Mark,  and  Luke ;  throwing  open  that 
precious  mine,  with  all  its  religious  and  moral  trea- 
sures, to  the  largest  associated  population  in  the 
world."  To  which  Mr.  Brown  added,  that  Lord 
Minto  now  patronized  all  the  translations  of  the 
Scriptures  into  the  Eastern  languages,  and  had 
himself  become  a  subscriber  to  some  of  those  which 
were  then  in  the  press  at  Serampore. 


432  MEMOIR   OF    DR.    BUCHANAN. 

In  a  letter  to  Mr.  Brown  he  writes :  "  People 
imagine  that  I  am  meditating  war.  Nothing  is  far- 
ther from  my  thoughts.  I  am  at  present  reading 
the  Bible,  and  studying  some  sermons  for  poor  peo- 
ple. [  stand  remote  from  the  world.  I  do  not  even 
know  whether  the  Court  of  Directors  pays  my  fur- 
lough allowance.  But  on  this  and  other  subjects  I 
shall  be  able  to  say  more  after  I  have  been  a  year 
in  the  country. 

'*  The  Chinese  printing "  (sent  to  him  by  Mr, 
BroWn)  "is  very  admirable.  You  are  cheaper  too 
than  I  was  when  I  gave  four  annas  for  every  cha- 
racter. The  arrival  of  Mr.  Thomason  will  brighten 
your  prospects.  I  told  Mrs.  M.  her  prayers  would 
bring  good  men. 

"  Mr.  B.  here  is  very  useful  as  an  evangelist.  I 
shall  enclose  to  you  an  account  of  the  death  of  his 
daughter,  aged  14.  He  lost  four  children  in  a  year, 
and  preached  nobly  to  the  hearts  of  his  large  con- 
gregation during  the  whole  period.  So  you  see  good 
men  have  their  trials  on  the  banks  of  the  Severn, 
as  well  as  on  the  Ganges. 

"You  will  regret  to  hear  that  Henry  Kirke 
White  was  first  proposed  to  Mr.  Thornton,"  (mean- 
ing for  Dr.  Buchanan's  benefaction  to  some  student 
at  the  university,)  "  and,"  for  reasons  which  do  not 
appear,  "  was  rejected." 

On  the  26th  of  February  he  jireached  his  sermon 


IN    ENGLAND.  433 

entitled,  "  The  Star  in  the  East."  This  was  tlie 
first  of  those  well-directed  and  successful  eflfoita 
which  Dr.  Buchanan  made,  after  his  arrival  in 
England,  to  enlighten  and  arouse  the  public  mind 
in  regard  to  the  great  object  which  had  so  fully 
occupied  his  attention  in  India.  Tiiis  sermon  was 
preached  in  the  parish  church  of  St.  James,  Bristol, 
for  the  benefit  of  the  Church  Missionary  Society. 
The  effect,  when  delivered  from  the  pulpit,  and 
when  issued  from  the  press,  was  great  and  salu- 
tary. No  modern  sermon,  perhaps,  has  produced  a 
greater  effect.  The  high  encomium  of  Sabat,  alas  ! 
was  not  verified  by  the  event ;  but  none  but  God 
can  read  the  heart.  The  most  promising  blossoms 
are  often  nipped,  and  the  most  sanguine  hopes  dis- 
appointed. Thus  it  was  in  the  days  of  the  apostles, 
and  thus  it  has  been  ever  since. 

Dr.  Buchanan  now  paid  a  visit  to  the  University 
of  Oxford,  and  expresses  himself  well  pleased  with 
the  cordial  reception  which  he  received  from  many. 
The  object  of  the  visit  was  in  subservience  to  his 
one  object  of  pursuit ;  he  wished  to  look  into  the 
public  libraries,  and  especially  to  examine  the  ori- 
ental manuscripts  deposited  there.  In  this  venera- 
ble seat  of  learning  Dr.  Buchanan  spent  ten  days, 
receiving  many  civilities  from  the  masters  and  fel- 
lows of  colleges. 

He  also  paid  a  visit  to  Hertford  College,  insti- 
tuted by  the  East  India  Company,  for  the  study  of 

Buchanan.  «>♦ 


434  ftlEMOlR    OP    DR.    BCCHAN'APT. 

the  Oriental  languages.  Of  this  institution  he  says, 
"  I  returned  yesterday  from  Hertford  College,  with 
which  I  was  much  pleased.  Of  course  it  owes  its 
present  efficiency  to  a  wise  selection  of  professors. 
Dealtry  alone  would  do  honor  to  any  institution." 

In  August,  1S09,  Dr.  Buchanan  visited  Scarbo- 
rough, where  he  preached  to  crowded  and  admiring 
audiences;  and  it  was  earnestly  desired  by  many, 
that  as  he  had  now  relinquished  all  thoughts  of  re- 
turning to  India,  he  should  exercise  his  ministry  in 
this  place. 

It  was  here  that  he  became  acquainted  with  the 
interesting  family  of  Mr.  Thompson,  of  Kirby  Hall, 
of  which  he  had  heard  much,  and  with  which  he 
soon  formed  a  close  alliance ;  for,  in  February, 
1810,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  his  second  wife, 
the  daughter  of  Mr.  Thompson.  He  was  attracted 
to  this  lady  by  her  eminent  piety,  her  active  bene- 
volence, and  her  filial  duty  and  affection.  This  con- 
nection, for  a  while,  fixed  his  residence  in  York- 
shire ;  and  while  he  remained  at  Moat  Hall  he 
performed  the  duties  of  a  pastor  to  the  parish  of 
Ouseburn.  His  friends  at  Bristol,  however,  were 
solicitous  that  he  should  return  and  occupy  Wel- 
beck  chapel.  The  friend  who  first  introduced  him 
to  this  chapel,  finding  him  eminently  qualified  to  be 
a  preacher  in  a  city  congregation,  formed  the  plan 
of  building  a  chapel  for  him  in  one  of  the  western 
parishes  of  London.  This  scheme  met  with  his  en- 


IS    ENGLAND.  435 

tire  approbation  ;  owing,  however,  to  some  unfore- 
seen impediments,  the  design  was  not  carried  into 
effect. 

On  occasion  of  the  kinij  havinnf  reached  the  fifti- 
eth  year  of  his  reign,  Dr.  Buchanan  preached  seve- 
ral sermons ;  which  wcie  published  and  widely 
circulated,  and  greatly  admired.  They  were  enti- 
tled, "Jubilee  Sermons." 

In  this  year  he  received  again  communications 
from  Rev.  Mr.  Brown,  representing  India  as  in  a 
tranquil  state,  and  even  prosperous,  Mr.  Brown,  in 
his  letter,  dwelt  with  delight  and  energy  on  the  ex- 
ertions of  Henry  Martyn  and  his  associates. 

He  also  received  a  letter  from  Mr.  Kolhoff,  at 
Tanjore,  informing  him  that  Mr,  Horst  had  been 
engaged  in  collecting  materials  for  the  life  of  Mr. 
Swartz,  agreeably  to  his  request,  and  had  about  ten 
sheets  of  written  notes ;  which  he  would  have  de- 
spatched by  this  opportunity,  had  he  not  discovered 
several  important  omissions  which  he  was  desirous 
of  supplying.  He  also  informed  him  of  the  agree- 
able fact,  that  the  Court  of  Directors  had  granted 
seven  hundred  pagodas,  in  addition  to  their  for- 
mer five  hundred,  to  aid  in  supporting  protestant 
schools. 

It  has  been  stated  that  Dr.  Buchanan  desired  to 
write  the  life  of  Swartz  ;  and  indeed  he  had  it 
much  at  heart  to  exhibit  to  the  christian  commu- 
nity the  character  of  this  eminent  and  successful 


436  MEMOIR    OF    DR.    BUCIIAXAN. 

missionary,  and  had  commenced  the  work,  when 
lie  heard  that  another  had  undertaken  it.* 

On  the  12th  of  June,  this  year,  Dr.  Buchanan 
preached  the  anniversary  sermon  before  the  Church 
Missionary  Society.  It  was  a  grand  occasion  ;  and 
the  sermon  was  every  way  suitable  to  such  an  oc- 
casion ;  and  something  of  its  impression  on  the  au- 
dience may  be  inferred  from  the  fact,  that  the  col- 
lection amounted  to  nearly  c£400.  The  text  was, 
"  Ye  are  the  lis^ht  of  the  world."  This  sermon  was 
also  published  and  widely  circulated,  and  read  with 
interest  and  profit  on  both  sides  of  the  Atlantic. 

His  next  public  service  which  deserves  to  be 
particularly  mentioned,  was  his  two  sermons  preach- 
ed, on  commencement  Sunday,  before  the  Univer- 
sity of  Cambridge.  Speaking  of  them  himself,  in  a 
letter  to  a  friend,  he  says,  '*  I  preached  for  three 
quarters  of  an  hour  in  the  morning,  and  above  half 
an  hour  in  the  afternoon.  There  was  the  most  so- 
lemn stillness.  The  church  was  crowded. 

"  The  Tuesday  following  the  bishop  of  Bristol 
came  up  to  me  in  the  senate  house,  and  thanked 
me  for  the  discourses,  and  expressed  a  hope  that 
they  would  be  published.  Others  did  the  same. 
Dean  Milner,  who  is  vice-chancellor,  informed  me 
soon  afterwards,  that  he  thought  himself  authorized 
to  grant  the  imjjrimatur  of  the  university  for  their 

*  The  life  of  Swartz  has  been  since  written  by  the  Rev. 
Hugh  Pearson,  the  author  of  this  memoir. 


I.\    ENGLAND.  437 

publlcalion;  and  I  am  preparing  ihcm  for  the  press 
accordingly.  I  mean  to  publish  important  matter 
as  an  appendix." 

These  discourses  were  entitled,  "  The  Euas  op 
Light,"  founded  on  Gen.  1  :  3,  "Let  there  be 
light."  They  arc  admirable  sermons,  highly  ani- 
mated and  instructive.  He  makes  three  eras  of 
Gospel  light.  The  first,  when  the  Gospel  was  pub- 
lished throughout  the  world  by  the  apostles ;  the 
second,  the  era  of  the  reformation;  and  the  third, 
our  own  times. 

In  speaking  of  this  last  he  says,  "  Christianity 
hath  again,  after  a  lapse  of  many  ages,  assumed  its 
true  character  as  the  '  light  of  the  world.'  We 
now  behold  it  animated  by  its  original  spirit,  which 
was  to  extend  its  blessings  to  '  all  nations.'  The 
Scriptures  are  preparing  in  almost  every  language, 
and  preachers  are  going  forth  into  almost  every 
clime.  Within  the  period  of  which  we  speak  men 
have  heard  the  Gospel  in  their  own  tongue  where- 
in they  were  born."  In  India,  throughout  many  of 
its  provinces;  in  different  parts  o^  Africa  ;  in  the 
interior  o^  Asia  :  in  the  western  parts  oi  America  ; 
in  New  Holland ;  in  the  isles  of  the  Pacific  Sea; 
in  the  West  Indies;  and  in  the  regions  of  G^z-re??- 
Ia?id  and  Labrador;  Malays,  Chinese,  Persians, 
arjd  Arabians,  begin  now  to  hear,  or  read  in  "  their 
own  tongues  the  wonderful  works  of  God." 

Dr.  Buchanan,  before  he  concluded  these  dia- 
37* 


438  MEMOIR   OP    DB,    BUCHANAN. 

courses,  addressed  to  an  audience  not  much  accus- 
tomed to  hear  plain  evangehcal  truths,  thought  it 
his  duty  to  give  his  emphatic  testimony  to  the  ne- 
cessity and  reality  of  that  spiritual  change  incul- 
cated in  the  Scriptures.  ''  This  change  of  heart,'* 
says  he,  "  ever  carries  vv^ith  it  its  own  witness ;  and 
it  alone  exhibits  the  same  character  among  men  of 
every  clime.  It  bears  the  fruit  of  righteousness ;  it 
affords  the  highest  enjoyment  of  life  which  was 
intended  by  God  or  is  attainable  by  man.  It  inspires 
the  soul  with  a  sense  of  pardon  and  acceptance 
through  the  Redeemer.  It  gives  peace  in  death, 
and  sure  and  certain  hope  of  the  resurrection  unto 
eternal  life  !" 

Upon  his  first  visit  to  Cambridge,  after  his  return 
from  India,  he  presented  to  the  public  library  of 
the  University  twenty-five  valuable  oriental  manu- 
scripts, which  he  had  collected  on  the  coast  of  Ma- 
labar, principally  biblical,  written  in  the  Hebrew, 
Syriac,  and  Ethiopic  languages. 

In  February,  1811,  Dr.  Buchanan  had  a  slight 
paralytic  stroke,  affecting  his  voice  and  his  right 
hand.  As  the  spring  approached  his  illness  did  not 
disappear  but  continued  ;  and  his  physicians  pro- 
nounced the  disease  to  be  a  nervous  weakness ;  for 
the  removal  of  which  a  cessation  from  study  was 
necessary. 

Not  wishing  to  remain  unoccupied  and  useless, 
he  now  projected  2,  journey  to  Palestine;  which, 


IN    ENGLAND.  43'J 

while  it  might  be  a  means  of  restoring  liis  health, 
would  furnish  the  opportunity  of  collecting  much 
important  information  respecting  the  religious  state 
of  that  interesting  country.  His  chief  object,  a.s  he 
expressed  it,  was,  to  make  inquiries  respecting  the 
churches,  the  Scriptures,  and  the  translation  of  the 
Bible  into  the  languages  of  the  nations.  But  when 
he  formed  this  noble  plan  he  was  not  conscious  of 
the  debilitated  state  of  his  constitution.  The  jour- 
ney was  therefore  never  undertaken.  By  the  advice 
of  his  physicians  he  now  tried  the  waters  of  Bux- 
ton ;  and  it  was  while  using  these  waters  he  com- 
posed and  preached  his  pleasing  sermon,  entitled, 
"  The  waters  of  Bethesda;"  which  was  also  given 
to  the  public  through  the  press. 

Though  Dr.  Buchanan*s  health  continued  to  de- 
cline, his  mental  powers  remained  unimpaired  ;  and 
the  following  passage  from  a  letter,  dated  Kirby 
Hall,  April  13,  1S12,  gives  a  delightful  intimation 
of  the  heavenly  state  of  his  mind.  "  I  am  now  seek- 
ing the  comfort  of  the  holy  Scriptures  and  their 
promises,  and  love  to  contemplate  Augustine  and 
Luther.  I  look  forward  to  nothing  in  this  life  but 
tliese  two  things,  repentance  icith  hitter  tears  for  jpast 
sins,  and  joy  in  tlic  Holy  Ghost.  These  two  bless- 
ings I  am  encouraged  to  look  for,  for  they  are  pro- 
mised to  sinners  ;  they  are  the  '  gifts  to  the  rebel- 
lious.' In  the  meantime  I  pray  to  do  the  will  of 
God,  and  to  use  my  voice,   my  pen,  or  my  feet,  as 


440  MEMOIR    OP    DR.    BUCHANAN. 

he  wishes  me,  while  these  members  have  any 
strength  for  his  service." 

Thus  was  God  evidently  preparing  him  for  an- 
other sore  domestic  bereavement,  which,  by  the 
workings  of  his  inscrutable  providence,  he  was  now 
called  to  endure. 

After  the  birth  of  a  son,  which  did  not  live,  his 
wife  seemed  to  recover  well  from  her  confinement; 
but  these  favorable  appearances  were  of  short  du- 
ration :  she  was  called  away  by  her  Father  in  hea- 
ven. Concerning  this  event.  Dr.  Buchanan,  in  writ- 
ing to  a  friend,  April  1,  IS  1 3,  says  : 

"  Long  before  her  last  illness,  my  dear  Mary  had 
frequently  contemplated  the  probability  of  her  dy- 
ing in  early  life.  Her  delight  was  to  talk  of  things 
heavenly  and  spiritual ;  and  her  studies  were  al- 
most entirely  religious.  Her  spirits  seemed  to  have 
been  much  chastened  by  personal  and  by  domestic 
suffering  ;  and  her  affections  were  gradually  losing 
their  hold  of  this  world.  After  her  last  confinement 
her  heart  appeared  to  be  devoted  to  God  in  a  par- 
ticular manner. 

"  She  seemed  to  enjoy  prayer  and  religious  con- 
verse in  a  high  degree,  notwithstanding  her  indis- 
])osition  and  high  fever.  We  mutually  expressed 
the  hope  of  devoting  ourselves  to  the  service  of 
God,  for  the  time  to  come,  more  affectionately  and 
actively  than  we  had  done  in  time  past.   She  look- 


IN    EN'GLAND.  441 

ed  forward  certainly  to  the  comfort  of  eujoyirii^ 
more  the  life  of  a  saint  on  earth,  but  I  do  not  think 
she  expected  so  early  to  be  a  saint  in  heaven. 

"  On  the  night  previous  to  her  death  she  sat  on 
the  couch  in  my  study.  She  begged  I  would 
give  her  the  Bible,  and  a  little  table,  and  a  candle. 
She  read  one  of  the  Psalms  very  attentively  ;  the 
46th,  beginning,  "  God  is  our  refuge  and  strength, 
a  very  present  help  in  trouble."  And  when  I  took 
the  Bible  out  of  her  hand,  finding  it  open  at  that 
Psalm.  I  read  it  to  her,  as  a  portion  of  our  even- 
ing religious  exercise. 

"  On  the  morning  of  the  day  on  which  she  died, 
after  I  had  kneeled  by  her  bed-side,  as  usual,  and 
prayed  with  her,  and  had  left  her,  she  desired  her 
maid  to  read  a  hymn  to  her.  She  began  one,  but 
said,  '  It  is  a  funeral  hymn.'  She  replied,  '  A  fune- 
ral hymn  will  suit  me  very  well.' 

''  About  an  hour  after  she  was  brought  to  my 
study,  and  took  her  seat  in  the  arm-chair.  About 
one  o'clock  her  father  and  mother  came  to  visit 
her.  After  her  father  had  staid  some  time,  he  and 
I  went  out  in  the  carriage  for  an  hour,  while  her 
mother  remained  with  her.  On  our  return  her  mo- 
ther took  her  leave,  and  I  accompanied  her  down 
stairs  to  the  carriage.  On  my  coming  up,  my  dear 
Mary  had  just  got  up  from  her  chair,  and  walked 
over  to  the  couch  with  a  quick  step,  assisted  by  her 
nurse.    I  immediately  supported  her  in  my  arms. 


442  MEMOIR   OF   DR.    BUCIIANAJf. 

Slight  faintings  succeeded,  but  they  were  moment- 
ary. She  complained  of  a  pain  near  her  heart.  On 
my  saying,  I  hoped  it  would  soon  be  over,  she  re- 
plied, "  O  no,  it  is  not  over  yet ! — What  is  this  that 
has  come  upon  me  1  Send  for  mamma.  After  a  few 
minutes'  struggle  she  sat  up  in  the  couch  with  much 
strength  ;  and  looking  towards  the  window  she 
uttered  a  loud  cry  that  might  have  been  heard  at  a 
considerable  distance.  She  then  drank  a  little  wa- 
ter ;  and  immediately  after  drinking,  without  a 
groan  or  a  sigh,  fell  upon  my  breast.  1  thought  she 
had  only  fainted ;  but  her  spirit  that  moment  had 
taken  its  flight. 

"  Thus  died  my  beloved  wife.  She  was  ready 
for  the  summons.  She  had  long  lived  as  one  who 
waited  for  the  coming  of  the  Lord.  Her  loins  were 
girded,  her  lamp  was  burning,  and  the  staff  was  in 
her  hand  ;   she  had  nothing  to  do  but  depart." 

About  this  time  Dr.  Buchanan  heard  of  the  death 
of  two  of  the  most  excellent  men  who  ever  visited 
India,  Rev.  Mr.  Brown  and  Henry  Martyn.  His 
remark,  in  a  letter  to  a  friend,  is  :  "  These  good 
men  have  ascended  up  on  high  in  the  vigor  of  age 
and  life.  Let  us  aspire  to  follow  them,  and  join  the 
assembly  of  the  first-born  !"  His  own  heart  was  too 
much  in  heaven  to  grieve  unreasonably  for  the  de- 
parture of  his  pious  friends.  His  attachment  to 
his  wife  seems  to  have  been  very  tender,  but  the 


IN    ENGLAND.  443 

Stroke  hacl  no  other  efiect  than  to  wean  him  more 
and  more  from  the  world.  Among  his  ''  Private 
Thovights  "  we  find  the  following  : 

"  My  first  emotions  of  thankfulness  (when  I  could 
seek  subjects  of  thankfulness)  were,  that  her  last 
trial  was  so  short.  It  was  given  me  to  witness  fur 
my  soul's  health,  I  trust;  and  it  was  awful  indeed, 
but  it  was  short. 

*' I  suffer  chielly  from  the  reflection,  that  I  did 
not  commune  with  Iter  more  frc(iui'ntJ])  and  directly 
on  the  state  of  her  .io?d.  God  ordained  her  personal 
and  domestic  sufferings  to  mature  her  for  her  ap- 
proaching change.  Mature  in  my  lieart,  blessed 
Saviour!  this  affliction,  and  enable  me  to  obey  the 
new  commandment,  '  that  ye  love  one  another.' 
This  love,  exercised  towards  a  wife  or  child,  ac- 
quires a  double  force ;  natural  affection  co-operat- 
ing with  spiritual  love." 

Under  another  date  he  adds:  ''  I  am  now  ena- 
bled to  pray  three  times  a  day ;  and  am  not,  as 
usual,  drawn  hastily  from  my  knees.  I  have  long 
prayed  for  a  spirit  of  grace  and  supplication,  and 
now  the  Lord  hath  been  pleased  to  give  it  by  means 
that  I  did  not  expect. 

*'  The  chief  petitions  of  my  heart  have  been  : 

"  That  God  would  strike  the  well  of  my  affec- 
tions, and  cause  the  waters  to  flow  : 

"  That  I  might  open  my  mouth  in  the  cause  of 
God.    Hitherto  my  lips  have  been  locked  up  in  a 


444  MEMOIR    OF    DR.    BUCHANAN. 

torpid  silence.  There  is  indeed  much  that  is  con- 
stitutional in  this  taciturnity ;  and  my  late  nerv^ous 
indisposition  has  greatly  increased  it.  Like  Hooker, 
I  can  scarcely  look  my  children  or  servants  in  the 
face.  I  have  prayed  that  this  unaccountable  vi'eak- 
ness  may  be  removed ;  that  I  may  become  vocal 
I'or  God  at  all  times  and  in  all  places  ;  that  I  may 
look  earnestly  into  the  eyes  and  countenances  of 
men,  and  seek  anxiously  their  salvation  ;  that  I 
may  never  forget  the  agonizing  looks  and  pow^er- 
ful  voice  of  my  dear  wife  in  the  struggle  of  death. 

"  That  I  may  learn  to  seek  the  glory  of  God  as 
the  first  object  of  my  conversation  in  the  vs^orld, 
and  to  pray  earnestly  for  the  conversion  of  all  men. 
Let  me  look  on  every  person  whom  my  eyes  be- 
hold with  benevolence,  loving  my  neighbor  as  my- 
self, and  utter  a  mental  prayer  for  that  person, 
*  May  this  be  a  vessel  of  mercy  prepared  unto 
glory!' 

"  That  the  Spirit  of  grace  and  supplication  may 
never  depart  from  me  ;  and  that  God  may  hear 
rny  morning,  noontide,  and  evening  supplication, 
during  every  day  of  my  pilgrimage.  That  I  may 
fix  my  love,  hope,  and  affections  on  God,  and  ob- 
tain that  fellowship  which  I  learn,  from  Scripture, 
is  attainable  by  men  in  the  present  state.   Amen." 


FUNERAL    OF    Bill.    THORNTON.  445 


CHAPTER   XIV. 


J}r>  BuchanatCs  Death, — Character, — Conclusion* 

One  of  the  last  public  acts  of  Dr.  Buchanan's 
life  was  the  sad  duty  of  attending  the  funeral  of 
his  most  excellent  and  highly  esteemed  friend, 
Henry  Thornton,  Esq.  In  the  following  letter  to 
Cglonel  Macaulay,  this  event  is  noticed  : 

*'  Broxjbourne,  Thursday,  Jan.  19. 

"  My  dear  Friend, — On  my  return  from  York- 
shire this  morning,  where  I  have  been  for  a  fort- 
night on  a  visit  to  my  family,  I  found  your  letter 
of  the  11th  inst.  lyino:  on  my  table. 

*'  The  first  intimation  I  had  of  Mr.  Thornton's 
illness  was  on  Monday  last  at  Carleton  Hall  Work- 
shop. On  my  arrival  here  I  found  your  letter,  and 
one  from  Mr.  John  Thornton  confirming  the  pain- 
ful intelligence.  I  was  just  going  to  sit  down  to  re- 
juest  that  he  would  communicate  to  his  uncle  my 
feelings  on  the  occasion,  and  my  request  to  go  to 
town  to  visit  him,  if  he  had  strength  to  see  me, 
when,  casually  looking  into  the  paper,  I  found  that 
he  had  died  on  Tuesday.  All  I  can  now  do  is  to 
attend  the  funeral  of  this  good  man,  my  earliest 
and  most  particular  friend  and  benefactor.  I  have 
requested  Mr.  John  Thornton  to  let  me  know  on 
33 


446  MEMOIR    or    DR.    BUCHANAN. 

what  day  the  funeral  takes  place.  In  case  of  mis- 
take, will  you  have  the  goodness  to  mention  to  me 
the  time  and  place,  and  I  shall  go  out  early  in  the 
morning  and  return  in  the  evening,  as  my  present 
work  will  not  permit  me  conveniently  to  be  abse. 
a  night. 

"  I  desire  to  thank  you  most  unfelgnedly  for 
your  kindness  to  the  two  Cochin  Jews. 

''  With  kindest  regards  to  Mrs.  M.  I  am  very  af- 
fectionately yours,  C.  BuciiAx\AN." 

It  was  upon  the  solemn  and  affecting  occasion 
thus  referred  to,  that  the  author  of  these  memoirs 
met  Dr.  Buchanan  for  the  last  time.  A  crowd  of 
other  friends,  distinguished  by  their  talents,  rank, 
and  piety,  united  in  lamenting  the  loss  of  the  emi- 
nent person  around  whose  tomb  they  were  assem- 
bled. Amidst  that  mourning  throng,  it  will  readily 
be  believed  by  those  who  recollect  his  obligations 
to  Mr.  Thornton,  as  well  as  his  just  appreciation 
of  the  various  excellencies  of  his  revered  friend, 
that  no  one  shed  more  sincere  tears  over  his  grave 
than  Dr.  Buchanan.  Doubtless  he  then  felt,  as 
he  seemed  to  feel,  in  common  with  a  multitude 
of  other  persons,  that  another  of  those  ties  by 
which  he  had  been  linked  to  this  world  was  de- 
stroyed. The  writer  of  these  pages  remembers, 
with  sensations  of  melancholy  yet  pleasing  regret- 
the  peculiarly  holy  and  heavenly  strain  of  conver 


FUNERAL    or    MR.    THORNTON.  447 

eation  wltli  which  Dr.  Buchanan  cheered  and  edi- 
fied his  friends  on  the  evening  oi"  that  moujtiful 
day,  and  on  the  morning  of  his  return  into  Hert- 
fordshire ;  Jittle  tliinking  tliat  it  would  be  tiie  last 
opportunity  of  their  enjoying  that  privilege. 

Of  this  short  and  affecting  visit  to  Clapham,  the 
following  interesting  anecdote  has  been  communi- 
cated by  a  friend  at  whose  house  Dr.  Buchanan 
took  up  Lis  abode  : 

"  He  was  relating  to  me,"  observes  this  gentle, 
man,  "  as  we  walked  together  from  the  church- 
yard where  we  had  deposited  the  mortal  remains 
of  Henry  Thornton,  the  course  he  was  pursuing 
with  respect  to  the  ])rinting  of  the  Syiiac  Testa- 
ment. He  stated  that  his  solicitude  to  render  it 
correct  had  led  him  to  adopt  a  plan  of  revision 
which  required  him  to  read  each  sheet  five  times 
over  before  it  went  finally  to  the  printer.  The  par- 
ticulars of  the  plan  I  do  not  very  distinctly  lemern- 
ber.  It  was,  however,  something  of  this  kind  :  he 
first  prepared  the  sheets  for  the  press ;  when  the 
proof  was  sent,  he  read  it  over  attentively,  insti- 
tuting a  comparison  with  the  original,  and  looking 
into  the  various  readings,  Sec.  A  revise  was  sent 
him,  which  he  carefully  examined,  making  correc- 
tions. This  was  submitted  to  Mr.  Yeates.  AVhen 
it  came  from  him  he  read  it  again,  adopting  such 
of  his  suggestions  as   he   thought   right.     AVheu 


448  MEMOIR    OF    DR.    BUCHAXAX. 

the  printer  had  made  the  requisite  corrections  he 
sent  a  fresh  revise,  after  being  read,  to  Mr.  Lee, 
and  re-perused  it  when  it  came  from  him.  A  third 
revise  was  then  procured,  which  he  again  examin- 
ed before  it  was  finally  committed  to  the  press.  1  do 
not  know  that  I  am  precisely  accurate  in  this  state- 
ment, but  it  was  something  of  the  above  description. 
"  While  giving  me  this  detail,  he  stopped  sud- 
denly and  burst  into  tears.  I  was  somewhat  alarm- 
ed. When  he  had  recovered  himself,  he  said,  '  Do 
not  be  alarmed.  I  am  not  ill ;  but  I  was  completely 
overcome  with  the  recollection  of  the  delight  which 
I  had  enjoyed  in  this  exercise.  At  first  I  was  dis- 
posed to  shrink  from  the  task  as  irksome,  and  ap- 
prehended that  I  should  find  even  the  Scriptures 
pall  by  the  frequency  of  this  critical  examination ; 
but,  so  far  from  it,  every  fresh  perusal  seemed  to 
throw  fresh  light  on  the  word  of  God,  and  to  con- 
vey additional  joy  and  consolation  to  my  mind.*  " 

How  delightful  is  the  contemplation  of  a  servant 
of  Christ  thus  devoutly  engaged  in  his  heavenly 
Master's  work,  almost  to  the  very  moment  of  his 
transition  to  the  divine  source  of  light  and  truth 
itself! 

The  pious  and  elevated  frame  of  Dr.  Buchanan's 
mind  is  evident  from  another  incident  which  occur- 
red at  this  time. 

In   passing   through    London,  on  his  return  to 


FUNERAL    OP    MR.    THORNTON.  449 

Broxbournc,  he  spent  a  few  hours  with  a  friend 
wliom  he  had  met  upon  the  solemn  occasion  of  ilie 
preceding  day.  In  the  course  of  their  conversation 
liis  friend  observed,  how  afiecting  was  the  conside- 
ration of  the  removal  of  so  many  great  and  good 
men,  whom  they  liad  lately  had  occasion  to  lament, 
in  the  prime  of  life  and  in  the  midst  of  their  use- 
fulness. To  this  observation  Dr.  Buchanan  replied, 
'*  So  long  as  they  were  still  on  earth,  and  the  divirie 
will  was  not  known,  it  was  our  duty  fervently  to 
pray  for  their  recovery  and  lengthened  life  ;  but, 
when  once  that  will  has  been  discovered  by  the 
event,  we  should  rejoice  and  praise  God  that  he 
has  received  them  to  himself,  and  hasten  to  follow 
them  to  his  heavenly  kingdom."  It  was  not  long 
before  he  himself  afforded  another  illustration  of 
this  remark,  which,  though  not  unfrequently  made, 
was  peculiarly  characteristic  of  that  spirit  of  calm 
and  habitual  submission  to  the  will  of  God,  and  of 
lively  faith  in  the  realities  of  an  eternal  world,  by 
which  he  was  distinafuished. 

The  extreme  severity  of  the  weather  had  excited 
some  apprehensions  in  the  minds  of  many  as  to 
the  probable  ellect  of  Dr.  Buchanan's  exposure  to 
it  during  some  hours  of  the  preceding  day.  He  did 
not,  however,  appear  at  the  time  to  have  snfTeicd 
by  it,  and  leached  Broxbourne  on  the  2oih  of  Ja- 
nuary in  safety. 

On  the  1st  of  February  he  wrote  to  Mrs.  Thomp- 


450  MEMOIR    OF    DR.    BUCHANAN. 

son  informing  her  of  the  solemn  scene  at  which  he 
had  lately  been  present,  describing  the  numerous 
and  respectful  attendance  at  the  funeral  of  Mr. 
Thornton,  and  expressing  his  earnest  desire  to  fol- 
low him  to  the  same  blessed  inheritance. 

This  was  the  last  communication  of  Dr.  Bucha- 
nan to  his  distant  friends.  The  time  of  his  depar- 
ture was  now  fast  approaching.  He  continued,  how- 
ever, his  christian  undertaking  to  the  last.  On  his 
return  from  Yorkshire  he  had  proceeded  with  the 
preparation  of  the  Syriac  version  of  the  Acts  of 
the  Apostles,  and  had  advanced,  on  the  day  pre- 
ceding his  death,  to  the  twentieth  chapter,  in  which 
the  zealous  and  affectionate  apostle,  in  his  address 
to  the  elders  of  Ephesus,  expresses  his  conviction 
of  his  final  separation  from  his  friends,  in  these  re- 
markable words  :  "  And  now,  behold,  I  know  that 
ye  all,  among  whom  I  have  gone  preaching  the 
kingdom  of  God,  shall  see  my  face  no  more."  The 
chapter  which  thus  closed  the  labors  of  Dr.  Bu- 
chanan, and  in  which  he  seemed  to  bid  farewell  to 
every  earthly  association,  was  but  too  prophetic  of 
the  event  which  was  about  so  shortly  to  take  place. 
Of  his  few  remaining  days,  and  of  his  sudden  re- 
moval to  that  higher  world,  for  which  he  had  long 
been  ripening,  the  following  letter  to  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Kerapthorne,  from  his  confidential  servant,  who 
was  his  only  attendant  in  Hertfordshire,  though 
unavoidably  inadequate  to  the  anxious  wishes  of 


ins    DEATH.  4-51 

his  friends,   affords    a    minute     and    railhfnl    ac- 
count : 

"  BiiOXBouuNK,  Feb.   12,  1S15. 

"  Rev.  Sir, — In  case  of  your  not  havinc;  been 
made  acquainted,  tlirougli  the  public  papers,  with 
the  decease  of  Dr.  Buchanan,  I  feel  it  my  duty  lo 
write  to  you  on  the  subject. 

"  The  doctor's  state  of  health,  as  you  may  liave 
understood,  had  improved  durin'^  his  residence 
here  up  to  the  time  of  his  late  visit  to  Yorkshire  ; 
but  the  fatigue  of  that  journey,  probably  added  to 
an  attendance,  in  a  week  after  his  return,  in  l)ad 
weather,  at  the  funeral  of  Mr.  Henry  'I  hornton, 
brought  on  an  apparently  slight  indisposition,  which 
the  doctor  himself,  I  believe,  considered  merely  a 
cold.  On  Thursday  last,  however,  while  making  a 
morning's  call  on  some  of  the  neighbors,  he  was 
taken  with  something  of  a  fainting  fit,  which  passed 
off  without  his  considering  it  of  consequence  enough 
to  require  medical  assistance.  As  the  sickness  came 
on  again  towards  evening,  I  took  the  liberty  to  dis- 
obey his  orders,  and  to  send  for  the  medical  gentle- 
man whose  skill  had  so  much  appeared  in  the  im- 
provement of  the  doctor's  health  in  the  preceding 
months.  This  gentleman  was  with  him  about  nine 
o'clock  in  the  evening,  and  did  not  express  any  ap- 
prehension of  danger.  Dr.  Buclvman  retired  a  little 
past  ten,  saying  he  was  better  ;  and,  as  he  expected 
to  get  a  little  sleep,  wished  me  not  to  disturb  him 


452  MEMOIR   OF   DR.    BUCIIAXAN. 

to  take  the  seconri  medicine  till  he  rung  the  bell. 
About  half-past  eleven,  sitting  on  the  watch  for  the 
summons,  I  fancied  I  heard  something  of  an  hic- 
cough ;  which  induced  me  to  enter  the  chamber, 
and  to  inquire  if  he  was  worse.  He  signified  he  icas 
worse.  On  which  I  instantly  alarmed  the  family 
and  sent  for  assistance  ;  and  then  returned  to  the 
bedside,  where  he  appeared  laboring  under  a  spasm 
in  the  breast.  He  intimated  a  wish  for  me  to  hold 
his  head  ;  and  in  this  posture,  without  struggle  or 
convulsion,  his  breath  appeared  to  leave  him  ;  so 
that  before  twelve,  by  which  time  Mr.  Watts,  the 
printer,  Mr.  Yeates,  and  a  few  other  neighbors 
were  with  me,  we  were  obliged  to  conclude  that 
our  excellent  friend's  spirit  had  joined  the  glorified 
saints  above.  I  should  have  mentioned  that,  on  re- 
turning home  in  the  moi'ning  after  the  fit.  Dr.  Bu- 
chanan seemed  lame  on  the  left  side ;  but,  as  it 
went  off,  he  did  not  think  it  of  any  consequence. 
I  have  reason  to  think  it  might  be  a  third  attack  of 
paralysis.  The  medical  man,  on  coming  after  his 
dissolution,  said  it  did  not  surprise  him.  A  letter 
was  immediately  forwarded,  by  express,  to  com- 
municate the  melancholy  intelligence  to  my  mas- 
ter's family  in  Yorkshire  ;  from  whence  some  one 
is  hourly  expected.  Mr.  JNIacaulay  was  also  written 
to,  and  Mr.  Simeon  at  Cambridge.  On  Saturday 
Mr.  Babington,  the  member  for  Leicester,  came 
down,  and  approved  of  the  precaution  and  arrange- 


IH.S    DEATH.  4.'»3 

raents  taken  immediately  after  his  tleparture  ;  botli 
as  to  putting  seals  on  the  drawers,  study,  &:c.  ike. 
"  With  the  greatest  respect,  1  beg  to  subscribe 
myself,  Rev.  Sir,  your  most  obedient  faithful  ser- 
vant, T.  Vaux." 

Such  was  the  sudden  summons  by  which,  on  tlie 
9th  of  February,  1S15,  in  the  49th  year  of  his  age, 
this  eminent  servant  of  God  was  called  to  his  hea- 
venly rest.  To  himself  it  could  scarcely  be  said  to 
be  unexpected.  The  debilitated  constitution  which 
he  brought  from  India,  and  the  repeated  shocks  it 
had  subsequently  sustained,  led  him  habitually  to 
regard  his  continuance  in  life  as  extremely  uncer- 
tain and  precarious ;  while  his  various  afflictions, 
personal  and  domestic,  had  tended  to  withdraw  his 
thoughts  and  affections  from  the  world,  and  to  fix 
them  on  spiritual  and  eternal  objects.  We  have  seen 
that  in  fulfilling  the  important  engagement  which 
terminated  his  earthly  course,  he  evidently  appear- 
ed to  be  working  while  it  was  called  "  to-day,"  and 
to  be  constantly  anticipating  the  near  approach  of 
"the  nieht"  in  which  he  could  no  Ion crer  work. 
Of  his  habitual  preparation  for  the  hour  of  his  de- 
parture, no  one  can  entertain  a  doubt  who  has 
marked  the  scriptural  foundation  of  his  faith,  and 
the  unquestionable  evidences  of  its  sincerity  in  the 
long  and  uniform  tenor  of  his  truly  christian  career. 
Jt  might,  perhaps,  have  been  desirable,  both  fur 


454  MEMOIR    OF    DR.    BUCHANAN. 

himself  and  for  others,  that  some  interval,  however 
short,  had  been  vouchsafed  ;  in  which  this  "  good 
and  faithful  servant "  of  his  Lord  might  have  had 
an  opportunity  of  renewing  his  repentance,  of  tes- 
tifying his  faith,  of  perfecting  his  patience,  of  puri- 
fying and  exalting  his  charity,  of  bidding  a  more 
solemn  and  express  farewell  to  "  things  seen  and 
temporal,"  of  preparing  more  deliberately  and  de- 
voutly for  an  immediate  entrance  upon  "  things 
unseen  and  eternal."  Such  an  interval,  however, 
so  precious  to  the  generality  of  mankind,  and  usu- 
ally so  important,  the  divine  wisdom  did  not  see  fit 
to  grant  to  the  subject  of  these  memoirs.  Neither, 
indeed,  can  it  be  said  to  have  been  necessary.  The 
readers  of  the  preceding  narrative  have  already 
observed  Dr.  Buchanan  in  India,  upon  what  he 
believed  would  prove  his  death-bed  ;  and  they  have 
witnessed  the  deeply  penitent,  yet  resigned  and 
peaceful  frame  of  mind  which  he  then  exhibited. 
Such,  as  we  are  evidently  authorized  to  conclude, 
only  of  a  mature  and  heavenly  nature,  would  have 
been  his  testimony  and  his  feelings,  had  he  been 
allowed  again  to  express  them.  In  the  absence, 
however,  of  any  such  opportunity,  we  must  be  con- 
tented to  recur  to  that  scene  ;  and,  together  with 
the  recollection  of  his  subsequent  "  work  of  faith, 
and  labor  of  love,  and  patience  of  hope,"  endeavor 
to  enter  into  the  full  meaning  of  the  following  brief 
sentence,  which  occurs  amidst  a  few  other  ''  pri- 


HI3    CHARACTER,  455 

vate  thoughts,"  and  in  which  its  author  appears 
plainly  tt)  have  anticipated  the  probability  of  some 
final  stroke,  which  should  impede  the  exercise  of 
his  faculties,  and  prove  the  prelude  to  his  depavt- 
ure.  "  If,"  said  he,  *■'  my  mind  and  memory  should 
be  affected  by  illness  of  body,  I  shall  look  to  my 
head,  Christ.  I  am  but  a  member."  From  any 
painful  infliction  of  this  kind  Dr.  Euchanan  was 
mercifully  spared  ;  and,  after  having  paid  the  last 
sad  tribute  of  affection  to  the  friend  and  benefactor 
of  his  early  years,  was  removed  almost  contempo- 
raneously and  reunited  to  him  and  to  other  kin- 
dred spirits  of  the  "just  made  perfect,"  in  regions 
where  sickness  and  sorrow,  change  and  separation, 
are  for  ever  unknown. 

In  consequence  of  a  wish  he  had  expressed  to 
Mrs.  Thompson,  not  long  before  his  death,  the  re- 
mains of  Dr.  BuchanaTi  were  removed  from  Brox- 
bounie  to  Litlle  Ouseburn,  in  Yorkshire,  and  depo- 
sited near  those  of  his  second  lamented  wife.  A 
monumental  inscription,  written  by  the  Rev.  W. 
Kichardson,  of  York,  records  in  plain  but  expres- 
sive language  the  leading  particulars  of  his  life  and 
character.* 

In  reviewing  the  history  of  Dr.  Buchanan,  our 
attention  must  be  first  directed  to  his  religious  clia- 
racter.  It  was  this  which  originally  introduced  him 

•  Sec  the  end  of  the  volurac. 


456  MEMOIR   OP    DR.    BUCHANAN. 

to  our  notice,  and  by  this  lie  was  principally  dis- 
tinguished throughout  his  benevolent  and  useful 
career.  The  deep  and  solemn  impression  of  reli- 
gion, which,  through  the  grace  of  God,  was  made 
upon  his  mind  in  his  twenty-fourth  year,  formed 
the  commencement  of  a  life  devoted  to  the  service 
of  Christ.  We  have  traced  the  effects  of  this  great 
spiritual  change  in  the  course  of  his  studies  at  the 
University  of  Cambridge,  during  his  various  labors 
in  India,  and  his  continued  exertions  after  his  return 
to  Britain.  Amidst  these  diversified  scenes  and  en- 
gagements, an  energetic  conviction  of  the  infinite 
importance  and  value  of  the  Gospel,  and  a  lively 
sense  of  his  own  obligations  to  that  grace  which 
had  made  him  effectually  acquainted  with  its  bless- 
ings, were  the  commanding  principles  which  actu- 
ated his  conduct. 

Those  who  know  little  of  real  Christianity  may, 
perhaps,  attribute  his  earnestness  and  activity  in 
religion,  as  they  would  that  of  the  great  apostle 
himself,  to  enthusiasm,  zeal  for  proselytism,  or  the 
love  of  fame.  But  the  whole  tenor  of  this  narrative 
sufl^iciently  proves  that  no  corrupt,  weak,  or  worldly 
motives  swayed  his  mind.  The  great  object  to 
which  he  devoted  his  life  engaged  him  in  an  un- 
ceasing contest  with  the  principles  and  the  preju- 
dices of  those  whom  a  regard  to  his  worldly  inte- 
rest would  have  led  him  carefully  to  conciliate ; 
and,  though  his  benevolent  exertions  undoubtedly 


m.s  <  iiAUAcrrn.  4,07 

procured  him  many  valuable  friends,  few  men  of 
such  sober  and  practical  views,  and  of  such  genu- 
ine philanthropy,  have  gone  througli  a  greater  va- 
riety of  "  evil  "  as  well  as  of  "  good  report."  With 
•Still  less  justice  can  the  activity  of  Dr.  Buchanan 
in  the  great  labor  of  his  life  be  ascribed  to  a  con- 
troversial or  innovating  s])irit.  lie  was,  on  the  con- 
trai-y,  disposed,  both  by  conslituti«)n  and  principle, 
to  avoid  rather  than  court  opposition  ;  while,  dur- 
ing several  years,  the  langor  of  declining  health 
was  continually  urging  him  to  self  indulgence  and 
repose. 

Amidst  such  powerful  inducements  to  a  very  dif- 
ferent line  of  c(mduct,  it  is  scarcely  possible  not  to 
perceive  that  Dr.  Buchanan  could  only  have  been 
actuated  by  pure  and  disinterested  motives.  The 
love  of  Christ  and  of  the  souls  of  men,  and  a  fer- 
vent desire  to  be  the  instrument  of  imparting  to 
others  that  unspeakable  blessing  which  he  had  him- 
self received,  were  in  reality  the  springs  both  of  his 
public  and  private  exertions.  These  were  the  prin- 
ciples by  which  he  was  animated,  and  which  sup- 
ported him  with  equanimity  and  patience  amidst 
labor  and  reproach,  infirmity  and  sonow,  and  even 
rendered  him  joyful  in  tribulation. 

Combined  with  these  motives,  Dr.  Buchanan 
possessed  a  spirit  of  lively  and  vigorous  faith,  which 
substantiated  "  things  not  seen,"  and  led  him  to 
think  and  act  under  a  strong  impression  of  their 

BuchaaaD.  **" 


458  MEMOIR    OF    DR.    liUClIANAN. 

truth  and  reality.  He  was  therefore  eminently  a 
practical  man.  Though  inclined  by  natural  taste 
and  the  habits  of  a  learned  and  scientific  education 
to  indulge  in  speculative  pursuits  and  pleasures, 
the  strength  of  his  faith  and  the  ardor  of  his  love 
towards  objects  of  spiritual  and  eternal  concern, 
rescued  him  from  their  fascination,  and  taught 
him  to  account  all  knowledge  and  all  occupation 
vain  and  unimportant,  compared  with  that  which 
tended  to  render  himself  and  others  "  wise  unto 
salvation."  Hence,  from  the  period  at  which  the 
religious  necessities  of  his  own  countrymen  in  India 
and  the  moral  state  of  its  benighted  native  inhabit- 
ants first  impressed  his  mind,  the  life  of  Dr.  Buchanan 
exhibits  a  continued  series  of  strenuous,  self-denying, 
and  disinterested  efforts  to  supply  the  deficiencies 
and  to  ameliorate  the  condition  which  he  lamented. 
For  the  accomplishment  of  this  great  purpose 
he  was  admirably  qualified,  both  by  natural  and 
acquired  advantages.  Sagacious  and  observant, 
calm  and  persevering,  resolute,  yet  mild  and  cour- 
teous, he  took  a  penetrating  and  extensive  survey 
of  the  various  objects  around  him;  and,  omitting 
points  of  inferior  consideration  and  importance, 
fixed  his  attention  on  the  grand  and  prominent  fea- 
tures by  which  they  were  distinguished.  The  tem- 
per also  and  habits  of  Dr.  Buchanan  were  pecu- 
liarly calculated  to  soften  the  asperities  and  to  re- 
move the  prejudices  of  opponents,  to  treat  with 


HIS    CIIARACTEH.  -I-'jO 

men  of  every  rank  upon  their  own  gnjiinds,  and  f<* 
engage  tlicm  in  pronioling  the  great  objects  wliicli 
he  himself  had  in  view;  vvliile  the  comprehensive- 
ness of  his  mind  and  the  munificence  of  his  dispo- 
sition enabled  him  both  to  conceive  and  execute 
designs  of  no  ordinary  difficulty  and  magnitude. 

AVe  have  accordingly  seen,  in  the  course  of  these 
memoirs,  that,  by  the  publication  of  authentic  do- 
cuments and  convincing  statements,  by  the  proposal 
of  magnificent  prizes,  by  the  active  exercise  of  his 
influence  with  those  who  respected  and  esteemed 
him,  and  by  personal  exertions,  which  included  a 
journey  of  more  than  five  thousand  miles,  amidst 
many  difficulties  and  dangers,  he  endeavored  to  ex- 
tend and  perpetuate  among  the  European  popula- 
tion of  India  the  national  faith  and  worship ;  and,  un- 
moved by  the  obloquy  of  opponents,  and  by  the  want 
of  cordial  assistance  on  the  partof  some  who  might 
have  been  expected  to  support  and  cheer  him,  la- 
bored unceasingly  to  diffuse  among  millions,  im- 
mersed in  the  thickest  darkness,  "  the  light  that 
leads  to  heaven." 

The  qualifications  of  Dr.  Buchanan,  as  a  writer, 
were  peculiarly  suited  to  the  task  wiiich  he  had  un- 
dertaken. Bold,  perspicuous,  and  decisive ;  he  is 
distinguished  in  all  his  works  by  the  accumulation 
and  display  of  new  and  striking  facts,  connected,  for 
the  most  part,  by  brief,  pointed,  and  sententious  ob* 
servations.     Even  in  his  writings  which  are  more 


460  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  BUCHANAX. 

Strictly  theological,  be  adopted  a  similar  plan  ;  sel- 
dom pursuing  a  long  train  of  reasoning,  but  laying 
down  certain  undoubted  facts,  truths,  or  principles, 
and  arguing  from  them  directly  and  practically  to 
the  conclusions  which  he  had  in  view.  The  style, 
however,  of  Dr.  Buchanan,  though  in  general  sim- 
ple and  unambitious,  was,  as  we  have  more  than 
once  had  occasion  to  notice,  frequently  dignified 
and  eloquent. 

His  delivery  was  slow,  but  impressive,  and. 
though  far  from  being  studied,  was  yet  pleasing  and 
persuasive.  His  sermons  were  often  doctrinal, 
but  more  frequently  practical  and  experimental ; 
and  generally  interesting,  either  from  the  historical 
or  parabolical  form,  or  from  the  simple,  yet  ener- 
getic and  affecting  style  in  which  they  were  com- 
posed. So  far  as  mere  popularitj'^  of  manner  is 
concenied,  he  may  not  be  considered  as  entitled  to 
much  distinction.  But  if  success  be  admitted  as 
any  test  of  merit,  he  must  be  allowed  to  rank  high 
as  a  preacher.  Both  in  India  and  this  country  ho 
was  honored  as  the  instrument  of  converting  many 
from  "  the  error  of  their  way,"  and  of  instructing 
and  edifying  others  in  the  faith  of  the  Gospel. 

Preaching  was  not,  however,  that  by  which  Dr. 
Buchanan  was  chiefly  distinguished.  His  peculiar 
excellencies,  as  a  public  character,  were  of  another 
kind,  and  are  to  be  discerned  in  his  enlarged  and 
truly   christian   philanthropy,    in  the    extent   and 


niS    CHAKACTLK.  4G1 

acknowlodged  importance,  utility,  and  disinterest- 
edness of  his  plans,  and  in  the  boldness,  generosity, 
and  ability,  with  which  he  labored  to  accomplish 
them. 

Of  his  fidelity,  diligence,  and  activity,  in  the  ful- 
filment of  his  oflicial  duties,  the  conduct  of  Dr. 
Buchanan,  as  Vice-Provost  of  the  College  of  Foit 
William,  is  a  striking  and  satisfactory  instance. 
During  his  residence  in  India,  independently  of  his 
acknowledged  value  as  a  public  servant,  he  was, 
according:  to  the  memorialist  of  his  excellent  col- 
league,  "  beloved  "and  admired  by  many  of  every 
rank  for  his  fine  abilities,  and  for  the  estimable 
qualities  of  his  heart;"  and,  after  his  return  to  this 
country,  his  uninterrupted  labors  in  the  cause  of 
Christianity,  amidst  accumulated  infirmities  and 
sorrows,  equally  secured  him  the  respect  and  es- 
teem of  all  who  are  capable  of  appreciating  pure 
and  exalted  virtue. 

Dr.  Buchanan,  however,  sought  not  "  honor  from 
men."  His  faith  enabled  him  to  "overcome  the 
world,"  and  rendered  him  comparatively  iiidifler- 
ent  to  its  applauses  and  its  frowns.     He  lived 

"  As  ever  in  his  great  Task-master's  eye  ;" 

an#  appeared  on  all  occasions  supremely  anxious  to 
fulfil  his  appointed  duties,  and  to  hasten  towards 
the  heavenly  prize.  "  He  carried  about  with  him," 
observed  one  of  his  intimate  friends,  "  a  deep  sense 
39* 


462  MEMOIK  OF  DR.  BUCnANAX. 

of  the  reality  of  vellgion,  as  a  principle  of  act  ion  ; 
and,  from  various  conversations  which  I  recollect 
with  him,  I  could  strongly  infer  how  much  he  la- 
bored to  attain  purity  of  heart."  His  last  common- 
place book  contains  various  proofs  of  his  simple, 
devoted,  and  progressive  piety.  Observations  occur, 
chiefly  founded  upon  passages  of  Scripture,  on  the 
great  doctrines  of  the  Gospel,  particularly  on  faith 
in  the  atonement,  on  divine  grace,  on  holiness,  on  the 
love  of  God  and  of  our  neighbor,  on  humility,  on 
communion  with  God,  and  on  the  world  of  spirits. 

One  brief  extract,  entitled  "  A  general  Topic  of 
Prayer,"  may  serve  to  show  the  practical  piety  and 
the  humble  and  subdued  disposition  of  its  author. 

"  Let  us,"  says  this  excellent  man,  "  endeavor  to 
seek  happiness  and  contentment  in  our  own  place 
and  condition,  not  looking  abroad  for  it.  Let  us 
seek  and  expect  it  in  existing  circumstances ;  con- 
tented with  little  domains,  little  possessions,  a  little 
dwelling ;  that  we  may  prepare  for  a  less  house,  a 
smaller  tenement  under  ground." 

If  we  descend  to  the  more  private  features  of  his 
character,  the  reader  of  his  memoirs  must  be  struck 
by  his  patience  under  protracted  weakness  and  suf- 
fering, and  his  submission  to  the  will  of  God  under 
frequent  and  severe  privations  of  domestic  iind 
personal  happiness,  and  by  his  extraordinary  libe- 
rality and  diffusive  charity.  Of  the  more  remark- 
able instances  of  these  virtues,  sufficient  notice  has 


HIS  cifARArTra.  4C3 

been  already  taken  ;  but  Dr.  Buclianan  was  cor- 
dially and  habitually  generous  ;  and,  independently 
f)f  those  rauiiillcent  acts  which  were  unavoidably 
public,  the  writer  of  this  narrative  has  met  with 
many  other  instances,  scarcely  less  noble,  of  which 
the  world  never  heard  ;  while,  in  addition  to  his  li- 
beral support  of  various  christian  institutions  which 
adorn  our  country,  there  were,  no  doubt,  numerous 
exertions  of  private  benevolence  which  were  utter- 
ly unknown. 

His  social  virtues  require  only  to  be  mentioned. 
His  invariable  kindness  and  candor,  his  forbear- 
ance and  readiness  to  fors^ive,  tocjether  with  all  the 
charities  of  domestic  life,  are  excellencies  which, 
though  happily  too  common  to  be  much  dwelt 
upon,  will  long  live  in  the  recollection  and  regret 
of  his  family  and  friends.  And  among  all  who  can 
justly  appreciate  distinguished  worth,  geniune  pie 
ty,  and  enlarged  and  active  pbilanthrophy  there 
can  surely  be  but  one  opinion — that  Dr.  Buchanan 
was  "  a  burning  and  a  shining  light,"  and  a  signal 
blessing  to  the  nations  of  the  East.  W©  may,  in- 
deed, safely  leave  his  eulogy  to  be  pronounced  by 
future  generations  in  Great  Britain  and  Hindostan, 
who  will  probably  vie  with  each  other  in  doing 
honor  to  his  memory,  and  unite  in  venerating  him 
as  one  of  the  best  benefactors  of  mankind  ;  as  hav- 
ing labored  to  impart  to  those  who,  in  a  spiritual 
sense,  are  "  poor  indeed,"  a  treasure 


464  MEMOIR   OF    DR.    BUCHANAN. 


The  gems  of  India." 


But  if  it  were  possible  that  men  should  forget  or 
be  insensible  to  their  obligations  to  this  excellent 
person,  he  is  now  far  removed  from  human  censure 
and  applause  ;  his  judgment  and  his  work  are  with 
God  ;  his  record  is  on  high,  and  his  witness  in 
heaven.  He  has  ''  entered  into  peace,"  and  will 
doubtless  stand  in  no  unenvied  lot  "  at  the  end  of 
the  days  ;"  when  "  they  that  are  wise  shall  shine  as 
the  brightness  of  the  firmament,  and  they  that  turn 
many  to  righteousness  as  the  stars  for  ever  and 
ever." 


CONCLUSION. 

(by    the    AMERICAN    EDITOR.) 

The  dispensations  of  divine  Providence  towards 
Dr.  Buchanan,  from  his  youth,  were  very  remark- 
able, and  seem  to  have  been  specially  directed  to 
prepare  and  qualify  him  for  eminent  usefulness  in 
propagating  the  Gospel  in  the  East. 

Naturally,  he  was  endued  with  a  mind  of  uncom- 
mon vigor  and  fertility ;  his  genius  was,  indeed, 


COXCI-VSION.  40o 

romantic,  and  in  some  degree  eccentric;  but  this 
very  defect  of  character  was  overruled  by  Provi- 
dence to  draw  him  out  from  his  native  obscurity, 
and  to  briiic^  him  into  an  intimate  friendship  with 
those  excellent  men,  the  Kev.  John  Newton,  and 
Henry  Thornton,  Esq.  by  whose  counsel  and  efi'cc- 
tual  aid  he  was  prepared  to  occupy  a  very  important 
place  in  the  church.  The  former  was,  in  all  re- 
spects, a  spiritual  father  to  him  ;  and,  as  long  as  ho 
lived,  acted  the  part  of  a  wise  and  faithful  friend, 
who,  by  his  deep  acquaintance  with  experimental 
religion,  and  thorough  knowledge  of  evangelical 
truth,  was  qualified  to  be,  to  an  ardent  young  man, 
a  counsellor  of  inestimable  value.  And  certainly 
he  did  watch  over  him  with  a  truly  paternal  solici- 
tude, and  no  doubt  bore  him  on  his  heart  daily  at 
the  throne  of  grace.  A  young  and  ardent  christian 
could  not  easily  have  found  a  safer  and  a  more 
affectionate  guide,  if  the  whole  world  had  been 
searched. 

The  latter  was  disposed  and  qualified  to  be  an 
efl[icient  friend  and  helper  in  all  things  in  which 
money  and  influence  were  needed.  *  By  his  liberali- 
ty and  disinterested  friendship,  Mr.  Buchanan,  in 
addition  to  the  learning  which  he  had  acquired  in 
Scotland,  was  enabled  to  obtain  a  finished  univer- 
sity education  at  Cambridge.  It  is  a  fact  confirmed 
by  experience,  that  a  man's  qualifications  for  use- 
fulness in  high  and  important  stations,  requiring 


46G  MEMOIR    OF    DR.    BUCHANAN. 

much  vigor  of  mind  and  large  mental  resources, 
must  have  an  important  relation  to  his  early  disci- 
pline and  training.  Had  Dr.  Buchanan,  as  he  and 
his  friends  at  first  wished,  entered  the  ministry 
without  going  through  the  university,  he,  no  doubt, 
would  have  been  a  useful  minister,  and  would  have 
had  several  more  years  for  his  public  work  ;  but  he 
never  could  have  filled  the  station  which  he  did  so 
honorably  in  India;  and  he  never  could  have  exer- 
cised that  influence  over  the  public  mind  by  his 
writings  which  has  been  attended  with  results  so 
momentous  and  felicitous. 

The  fact  that  Dr.  Buchanan  was  brought  into 
the  ministry  in  the  established  church  of  England, 
doubtless  greatly  enlarged  the  sphere  of  his  exer- 
tions in  the  East.  By  reason  of  this  he  had  access 
to  a  field,  to  which,  as  a  dissenter,  he  could  have 
had  none ;  and  by  reason  of  which  he  was  able  to 
exercise  a  powerful  influence  over  the  universities, 
and  over  even  the  dignitaries  of  the  church  at 
home. 

The  zeal,  exertion,  and  success  with  which  Dr. 
Buchanan  labored  to  awaken  the  attention  of  the 
christian  public  to  the  duty  and  importance  of  pro- 
pagating Christianity  in  India,  have  never  yet  been 
duly  appreciated.  Before  his  writings  dispelled 
the  darkness  of  prejudice  which  prevailed  among 
those  high  in  authority,  it  was  deemed  not  only  im- 
politic, but  highly  dangerous  to  the  British  posses- 


CONCLUSION*.  4G7 

sions  in  the  East,  to  make  tlic  least  attempt  to  dis- 
turb the  inveterate  prejudices  of  the  Hindoos, 
which  had  been  increasing  lor  ages.  All  their  su- 
perstitious rites  and  customs,  however  bloody  or  im- 
pure, it  was  thought  necessary  to  leave  unmolested. 
This  delusion,  the  writings  of  Dr.  Buchanan,  and 
other  men  of  talents,  were  the  principal  means 
of  dispelling ;  and  the  open  door  at  the  present 
time  for  missions  in  British  India,  is  doubtless 
owing,  in  no  inconsiderable  degree,  to  his  exertions. 
It  is,  indeed,  wonderful  that  he  should  have  been 
able  to  take  views,  so  large  and  comprehensive,  of 
the  great  harvest  which,  by  successive  acts  of  divine 
Providence,  was  opening  and  ripening  in  the  East. 
And  not  only  did  he  perceive  the  work  which  was 
to  be  done,  but  he  had  the  sagacity  to  discern  the 
means  and  facilities  requisite  for  its  performance. 
The  variety  and  extent  of  his  labors  show  not  only 
the  abundant  fertility  of  his  mind  and  his  extensive 
benevolence,  but  also  his  profound  wisdom.  When 
the  millions  of  India  shall  become  christian,  and  the 
other  eastern  nations  be  converted  unto  God,  we 
believe  that  few  names  will  be  more  highly  honored 
and  revered  than  that  of  Dr.  Buchanan. 

If  we  seek  to  ascertain  the  secret  of  his  extraor- 
dinary success,  and  how  be  was  able  to  accomplish 
so  much  in  so  short  a  time,  we  shall  find  the  solu- 
tion in  the  jmrity  and  elevation  of  his  christian 
motives,  and  the  unity  and  simplicity  of  the  end  to 


468  MEMOIR    OF    Dil.    EUC'HAxN'AN'. 

which  he  directed  all  his  energries.  Wherever  he 
is,  the  same  zeal  for  the  propagation  of  the  religion 
of  Christ  appears  to  aiiimate  him.  This  unity  of 
purpose  and  purity  of  motive  was  remarkably  dis- 
played when  a  student  in  the  university.  Indeed, 
it  would  be  difficult  to  find  in  evangelical  biography 
a  nobler  triumph  of  christian  principle  over  literary 
ambition.  Here  was  self-denial  of  an  uncommon 
kind,  and  in  the  exercise  of  which  he  found  few 
even  among  his  christian  friends  disposed  to  en- 
courage him.  The  pious  Newton  alone  approved 
his  deliberate  purpose  to  sacrifice  the  honors  which 
he  might  have  obtained,  for  the  sake  of  making  a 
thorough  preparation  for  the  sacred  and  important 
office  for  which  he  was  a  candidate.  His  whole 
correspondence  during  his  residence  at  Cambridge, 
furnishes  the  most  satisfactory  evidence  of  his  jea- 
lousy over  himself,  lest  an  attention  to  human  learn- 
ing should  damp  his  zeal,  or  retard  his  progress  in 
personal  religion ;  and  evinces  the  depth  and  purity 
of  that  principle  of  piety  which  had  been  implanted 
in  his  heart. 

The  same  disinterested  spirit  he  carried  with 
him  to  the  ministry.  His  object  was  not  where  he 
might  find  a  situation  where  he  could  spend  his 
days  in  ease,  affluence,  and  honor  ;  or  how  he  might 
rise  to  a  dignified  station  in  the  church ;  but  when 
he  saw  a  way  open  for  his  employment  in  the 
East,  he  cheerfully  resigned  all  his  prospects  of 


CONCLUSIO.V.  400 

preferment  in  liis  Dwn  cr>untry,  and  cmbracod  the 
offer  of  going  as  a  chaplain  to  India.  And  while 
resident  in  that  country  he  pursued  but  one  object. 
All  his  studies,  and  exertions,  and  plans  of  promo- 
ting learning,  and  the  translation  of  the  Sciiptures, 
were  in  exact  subserviency  to  the  grand  design  of 
propagating  and  extending  Christianity  in  the  East. 

Though  his  j)lans  were  great,  and  required  the 
co-operation  of  many  to  accomplish  them  ;  yet 
were  they  not  impracticable,  but  devised  with  a 
i\i\\  Joir sight  of  t fie  means  nquisih'  to  carry  them 
into  effect.  And  he  possessed  a  remarkable  talent 
for  bringing  into  re(]uisition  the  instruments  which 
the  exigence  required.  To  fertility  of  invention  he 
added  not  only  energy  in  the  execution,  but  great 
versatility  of  mind,  by  which  he  c(juld  accommo- 
date himself  to  new  and  unexpected  circumstances. 

That  Dr.  Buchanan  was  in  some  things  loo  san- 
guine, and  saw  new  and  important  events  through 
u  medium  somewhat  discolored  by  an  ardent  mind 
and  vivid  imagination,  cannot  be  denied.  This  led 
him  sometimes  to  represent  things  in  such  a  light 
as  to  excite  too  high  expectations,  which  have  not 
t)een  fully  realized.  But  this  very  ardor,  and,  if  it 
mSiy  be  so  called,  enthusiasm,  was  necess:iry  to  the 
successful  prosecution  of  the  great  objects  which  he 
liad  in  view.  No  man  has  ever  achieved  any  thing 
\er\  irreut  without  some  good  decree  of  this  nrdor  ; 
and  when  it  is,  as  in  his  case,  guided  by  pure  nio- 

Euchanan.  ^^ 


470  MEMOIR    OF    DK.    BUCHANAN. 

tives  and  elevated  aims,  it  is  a  precious  gift  of  God 
to  qualify  some  men  for  great  enterprises. 

Two  of  the  most  prominent  traits  in  Dr.  Buchan- 
an's character  were  courage  and  enterprise.  The 
latter  has  already  been  sufficiently  noticed ;  and, 
as  an  evidence  of  the  former,  we  would  refer  to  his 
visit  to  Goa,  and  to  the  interior  of  the  prison  of  the 
Inquisition.  Perhaps  there  is  not  on  record  in  his- 
tory an  example  of  courage  more  cool,  deliberate, 
and  determined.  It  was  that  species  of  courage 
which  arises  from  the  consciousness  of  an  upright 
intention,  and  confidence  in  the  presence  and  over- 
ruling providence  of  God. 

But  with  all  Dr.  Buchanan's  genius,  learning, 
enterprise,  and  zeal,  he  could  not  have  accom- 
plished what  he  did,  if  he  had  not  been  a  man  of 
incessant  indefatigable  diligence.  His  whole  course 
was  one  of  activity  and  exertion,  steadily  directed 
to  one  great  object.  When  his  health  was  so  debi- 
litated by  the  climate  of  the  east  that  it  was  neces- 
sary for  him  to  return  home  to  England,  it  might 
have  been  supposed  that  he  would  have  ceased  from 
his  labors,  and  sought  repose  for  his  declinino;'  years ; 
but  no  such  thought  occupied  his  benevolent  mind. 
His  exertions  for  the  best  interests  of  India  were 
undiminished,  and  even  more  successful  than  when 
in  that  country.  Providence  seems  to  have  directed 
his  return  to  his  native  country  for  the  very  pur- 
pose of  using  him  as  an  instrument  to  enlighten  the 


coNCLUsrOiV.  471 

public  mind,  and  to  exercise  an  extensive  influence 
ovef  men  of  the  first  order  of  intellect,  and  fiilini^ 
important  stations,  in  favor  of  the  East. 

His  public  discourses  before  the  universities, 
and  that  before  the  Church  Missionary  Society,  not 
only  produced  a  salutary  effect  when  delivered,  but 
were  widely  circulated  in  print,  and  gave  an  addi- 
tional impulse  in  favor  of  eastern  missions,  which 
has  been  powerfully  felt  on  this  side  the  Atlantic  ; 
and  that  impulse,  instead  of  gradually  ceasing,  has 
gone  on  accumulating  force  ;  and  will  go  on  from 
strength  to  strength,  until  it  shall  bear  down  all  op- 
position. 

Some  of  Dr.  Buchanan's  unaccomplished  plans 
manifest  as  much  wisdom  and  enterprise  as  those 
which  he  was  enabled  to  carry  into  effect.  It  was 
his  settled  purpose  to  return  from  India  by  land 
for  no  other  purpose  than  to  collect  information 
respecting  the  religious  state  of  the  people  ;  and 
especially  of  the  remnants  of  oriental  christian 
sects  who  still  inhabit  that  extensive  region.  But 
he  was  prevented  from  executing  his  purpose  by 
the  belligerent  state  of  the  people  through  whose 
territories  he  must  have  passed.  It  was,  however, 
with  evident  regret  that  he  relintiuished  this  dan- 
gerous journey.  And  after  his  return  to  England, 
when  his  health  had  received  a  very  serious  shock 
by  a  paralytic  stroke,  he  still  had  the  courage  and 
enterprise    to    project    a  journey    into    Palestine, 


472  MEMOIR    OF    DR.    BUCHANAN. 

Syria,  Asia  Minor,  &c.  wliich  journey  was  planned 
pimply  with  a  view  to  the  propagation  of  the  Gospel. 
In  this  cherished  plan  he  was  also  disappointed. 
His  health  was  entirely  too  feeble  for  the  hard- 
ships of  such  a  journey. 

There  is  yet  one  trait  in  Dr.  Buchanan's  charac- 
ter which  it  would  be  unpardonable  not  to  bring 
conspicuously  before  the  public.  And  although  it 
is  fully  manifested  in  the  regular  course  of  the  pre- 
ceding narrative,  yet  it  seems  proper  to  turn  the 
attention  of  the  reader  pointedly  to  it,  because  it 
may  be  considered  as  rare,  even  in  the  character  of 
sincere  christians.  We  refer  to  his  extraord'inarij 
and  princely  munificence.  Seldom  has  the  world 
had  the  opportunity  of  contemplating  a  character 
so  perfectly  exempt  from  avarice,  and  exhibiting  a 
generosity  so  pure  and  disinterested.  If  Dr.  Bu- 
chanan had  been  a  man  of  ample  fortune,  or  had 
been  in  the  way  of  acquiring  enormous  gains  in 
India,  it  would  not  have  appeared  so  singular  that 
he  should  bestow  so  many  large  sums  of  money  to 
promote  the  extension  of  Christianity  in  India. 
But  when  we  consider  that  he  went  out  a  poor 
young  man ;  and  while  in  the  East  had  no  other 
income  than  from  his  office  as  chaplain,  and  for  a 
time  as  vice-chancellor  of  the  College  of  Fort  Wil- 
liam, and  that  he  had  a  family  of  his  own,  for  whom 
no  permanent  provision  had  been  made,  we  can- 
not but  think  that  his  various  munificent  donations 
were  a  rare  example  of  christian  beneficence. 


CONCLUSION.  473 

Here,  also,  will  be  ihe  proper  j)lace  to  remark 
on  that  delicate  sense  of  moral  propriety  which  led 
Dr.  Buchanan,  at  an  early  period  after  he  was  set- 
tled in  India,  to  rvfund  to  Mr.  Thornton  the  whole 
sum  which  that  gentleman  had  so  generously  ex- 
pended in  supporting  him  at  the  university.  TIk; 
return  of  this  money  was  not  expected,  nor  desired  ; 
but  so  nice  was  the  sense  of  justice  in  Dr.  Buchan- 
an's conscientious  mind,  that  he  felt  it  \.o  be  obliga- 
tory on  him  to  pay  this  debt ;  and  thus  has  fur- 
nished an  example  worthy  of  imitation  by  other 
young  men  who  have  been  aided  in  a  similar  man- 
ner. But  not  content  with  merely  paying  his  debts, 
he  felt  it  to  be  incumbent  on  him  to  bestow  as 
much,  or  even,  more,  for  the  support  of  some  pi- 
ous and  promising  candidate  for  the  ministry  at  the 
university. 

Iriisjilial  piety,  also,  is  worthy  of  all  praise  and 
of  universal  imitation.  Before  he  left  his  native 
country  for  India  he  took  a  journey  to  Scotland, 
to  visit  his  aged  mother.  And  when  it  was  in  his 
power,  he  remitted  a  considerable  sum  of  money 
to  her  ;  and  finally,  out  of  his  moderate  income, 
gave  her,  as  long  as  he  lived,  an  allowance  of  c£300 
per  annum.  Though  long  life  in  the  land  of  Ca- 
naan is  no  longer  the  reward  of  filial  piety  ;  yet 
we  believe  that  an  equivalent  is  still  promised,  and 
that  God  often  rewards  the  pious  son  who  "  honors 
his  father  and  mother,"  with  prosperity  in  all  his  un- 
40* 


474  MEMOIR    OF    DR.    BUCHANAN. 

dertakirigs.  Dr.  Buchanan,  on  his  return  from 
India,  finding  that  his  mother  still  lived,  undertook 
another  journey  to  Scotiatnd,  breaking  away  from 
all  his  other  friends  and  engagements,  to  show  his 
respect  and  affection  for  his  aged  surviving  parent. 
Upon  a  review  of  Dr.  Buchanan's  life,  we  are  of 
opinion  that  he  may  safely  be  recommended  to 
those  whom  providence  has  called  to  take  a  lead  in 
missionary  efforts,  as  furnishing  a  conspicuous  and 
admirable  exam2)le  of^dsdom,  energy,  industry,  fer- 
severance,  and  disinterestedness,  in  the  promotion  of 
the  kini^dom  of  Christ  amongr  the  heathen.  This 
volume,  we  trust,  therefore,  with  the  biography  of 
Brainerd,  Pearce,  Martyn,  Carey,  and  others,  will 
be  the  means  of  elevating  the  views  and  giving 
impulse  to  the  pious  feelings  of  many  a  youthful 
mind.  There  is  no  stronger  encouragement  to 
benevolent  effort  than  observi'ng  the  efficacy  which 
God  has  graciously  given  to  the  example  of  such  a 
man  as  David  Brainerd,  who  spent  his  life  in  the 
deepest  obscurity,  in  the  dark  bosom  of  the  forest, 
among  the  untutored  savages ;  but  his  memory  is 
now  embalmed,  and  he  being  dead,  yet  speaketh. 
May  some  of  the  same  blessed  fruits  attend  the 
reading  of  this  memoir  of  Buchanan  !  English 
literature  is  now  rich  in  evangelical  biography; 
and  the  stock  is  increasing  every  day.  How  would 
Dr.  Buchanan  have  rejoiced  to  behold  what  our 
eyes  now  see,  of  the  wide-spread  harvest  in  the 


CONCLUSION.  475 

East  already  white,  and  only  waiting  for  the  reap- 
ers to  enter  in  and  gather  precious  sheaves.  But 
he  foresaw  the  scene  whicli  is  now  presented  ;  and 
not  only  beheld  it,  but  sowed  an  abundance  of  seed 
which  since  his  death  has  sprung  up.  What  more 
suitable  termination,  then,  can  we  give  to  this 
volume  than  to  repeat  the  exhortation  of  our  Lord, 
"  Pray  ye  the  Lord  of  the  harvest  to  send  laborers 
into  his  harvest ;  for  the  harvest  is  plenteous,  but 
the  laborers  are  few." 


MONUMENTAL   INSCRIPTIONS. 


Ill  sure  ati.l  riirtain  hope 

of  a  blessed  rcsiirroclion  uiilo  eternal  life, 

was  depositiMl  here  the  mortal  liody  of 

M  A  R  'I  , 

the  beloved  wife  of  the  R,!v.  Dr.  Claudius  Buciiakan, 

of  Mout  Hall, 

1  youngest  daughter  of  ilcnry  Thompson,  Esq.  of  Kirby  Hall, 

who  died  on  the  '23d  day  of  March,  1813, 

iu  the  SClh  year  of  her  age. 

By  tho  grace  given  unto  her,  this  excellent  woman 

adorned  by  her  conduct  the  doctrine  of  the  Gotpel. 

Sincerity,  honesty,  and  tfimplicity 

were  the  charncters  of  her  mind,  and  she 

delighted  to  serve  God, 

"who  desireth  truth  in  the  inward   partn." 

Exercised  by  personal  and  domestic  suffering,  sho  wai 

early  weaned  from  the  love  of  the  world: 

Her  affections  were  set  on  things  which  are  above, 

and  bbe  was  enabled  to  overcome  the  world  ; 

for  she  was  born  of  God. 

For  whatsoever  is  born  of  God  overcometli  the  world :    and 

this  is  the  victory  that  overcometh  tho  world, 

even  our  faith."     1  John,  5  :  4. 

Close  by  her  side  lie  her  two  infant  children, 

CLAUDIUS  BUCHANAN, 

aged  three  days, 

born  28th  December,  1810. 

And  his  infant  brother, 

who  lived  and  died  the  27th  Fob.  1813. 

Thrice  happy  infants  1 

That  saw  the  light,  and  turned  their  eyes  aside 

From  our  dim  regions  to  the  eternal  Sub. 


Sacred  to  the  Memory  of 
CLAUDIUS    BUCHANAN,    D.   D. 

Late  Vice-Provost  of  the  College  of  Fort  William  in  Bengal, 

whose  eminent  character  as  a  Christian, 

zeal  for  the  cause  of  his  God  and  Saviour, 

and  unwearied  endeavors  to  promote  it  in  the  earth, 

deserve  to  be  had  in  everlasting  remembrance. 

He  was  a  native  of  Scotland, 

but  educated  at  Queen's  College,  Cambridge. 

During  the  twelve   years  of  his  abode  in  India, 

"  his  spirit  was  stirred  in  hiin," 

while  he  beheld  millions  of  his  fellow-subjects, 

under  a  christian  government, 

as  sheep  without  a  shepherd,  and  perishing 

for  lack  of  knowledge. 

To  excite  the  attention  of  the  British  nation  to  this  sad  spectacle, 

he  devoted  his  time,  his  talents,  and  a 

large  portion  of  his  income. 

By  his  "  Christian  Researches,"  and  other 

valuable  publications, 

he  pleaded  the  cause  of  neglected  India,  nor  pleaded  in  vain; 

Britain  was  roused  to  a  sense  of  her  duty, 

and  sent  forth  laborers  to  the  harvest. 

Though  gentle  and  unassuming, 

he  was  bold  and  intrepid  in  this  work  of  faith  and  labor  of  lovoj 

and  exhibited  mental  vigor  to  the  last, 

amidst  great  bodily  debility  and  severe  affliction. 

In  social  and  domestic  life  he  was  holy  and  exemplary, 

full  of  mercy  and  good  works : 

Yet  in  lowliness  of  mind,  he  renounced  all  dependance  upon 

the  excellencies  which  others  saw  and  admired  in  him, 

and  looked  for  eternal  salvation  through  the 

obedience  unto  death  of  Christ. 

He  departed  this  life,  February  9,  1615,  aged  48, 

at  Broxbourne,  in  Hertfordshire ; 

where  he  was  superintending  an  edition  of  the  Syriac  Scriptures; 

and  was  buried  near  the  remains  of  his  amiable  wife, 

whose  virtues  he  has  recorded  on  the  adjoining  stone. 

"  They  were  lovely  and  pleasant  in  their  lives, 

and  in  their  death  they  were  not "  long  "  divided." 

THE  END. 


DATE  DUE 

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